&0 



^c 




Coming to Jerusalem these strangers asked of every one whom they met: 
you tell us where to find the little child who is born to be the 
King of the Jews?" 



"Can 



HURLBUT'S 

STORY OF JESUS 

For Young and Old 



A COMPLETE LIFE OF CHRIST 
WRITTEN IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE, 
BASED ON THE GOSPEL NARRATIVE 



By REV. JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT, D.D. 

Author of "Hurlbut's Story of the Bible" 
Former Editor International Sunday-School Lessons 






ILLUSTRATED 

With Colored Platesand Full Page Halftone Re- 
productions from the Paintings of William Hole, 
R.S.A., R.E., and other artists. Also including 
Maps and Photographs of the Holy I. and. 



PHIL \i)i:i.i'in \ 
THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 






Copyright, 1915, by 
L. T. Myers 



1 






L 

NOV 18 1915 
©CI.A416414 



"^r 



£»torp of 3Fe*u£ 

Jf or Botmg anb <0lb 



preface 



IN the preparation of this volume the aim in view has 
been to tell the story of Jesus Christ in a manner 
that will be attractive to both young and old, to 
children and their teachers. While the purpose of the 
writer has been to adapt the narrative to the understand- 
ing of a child of ten years, so that he will not need to 
ask the meaning of a sentence or a word: yet it has 
also been his desire to make it not childish, but simple, 
so that older readers may find it interesting and 
profitable. 

In order that this book may not lead its younger 
readers or listeners away from the Bible, but directly 
toward it, no imaginary scenes or conversations have 
been introduced. The design has been to write the 
biography of Jesus, not a romance founded upon his life. 
The order of events has been carefully considered; 
and follows that of the best authorities, accepting as 
historical all the four gospels and all their contents; 
raising no questions concerning miracles or the relative 
values of different portions of the record. The first 
purpose of every student or reader of the Bible, whether 
young or old, should be to become thoroughly familiar 
with its contents. Without a full knowledge of the 
Scriptures as they are, he is absolutely unfit to cope 
with the questions of authorship or the credibility of the 
sacred writings. 

3 



preface 



No attempt has been made to formulate from the 
record of Christ's life a doctrinal system. Theology is 
the loftiest study for the human intellect; but it belongs 
to the mature mind, not to the realm of childhood. Nor 
has it been the writer's aim to find in this story moral 
lessons for the young. The works and words of Jesus 
will make their own application to their reader, whether 
they be children or adults. 

The typography, the illustrations, and the mechan- 
ical execution of such a work as this are of almost equal 
importance with its literary material. All that diligent 
effort, artistic taste, and abundant resources can do to 
make this book attractive and helpful to its readers, has 
been done by the Publishers. 

That this volume may awaken a new interest in 
that Life of lives, which has brought the light of life to 
untold millions since it was lived upon the earth: that 
the children of this generation, who are to become the 
pillars of the coming years, may learn to love and follow 
Him who is the Elder Brother and Saviour of us all, is 
the prayer of the author of these pages. 



^A^j^SL^^xa^L yb^JwnJo 



August 28, 1915. 



Contents 



PAGE 

Preface 3 

Why Everybody Should Know the Story of Jesus 9 

CHAPTER 

1. The Lord's Land 17 

2. The People in the Lord's Land 24 

3. The Stranger by the Golden Altar 31 

4. The Angel Visits Nazareth 37 

5. A Young Girl's Journey 45 

0. The Boy Who Never Tasted Wine 50 

7. The Child-King in His Cradle 55 

8. The Baby Brought to the Temple 63 

9. The Followers of the Star 66 

10. Safe in Egypt 73 

11. A ( 'iiild's Life in Nazareth 77 

12. The Boy Lost and Found 85 

13. The Young Woodworker 93 

14. The Voice by the River 97 

15. The Carpenter Leaves His Shop 103 

16. Alone in the Desert 107 

17. The Earliest Followers of Jesus 115 

18. The Water Turned to Wine 121 

19. The Lord in His Temple 127 

20. At the Old Well 132 

21 . The Nobleman's Boy 139 

22. The Carpenteb in His Home-town 143 

23. Four Fishermen Called 119 

5 



Contents 

CHAPTER ^ 

24. Jesus in the Church, in the House, and in the 

Street 153 

25. The Leper and the Palsied Man 157 

26. How the Tax-Collector Became a Disciple 163 

27. The Cripple at the Bath 167 

28. The Lord of the Sabbath 171 

29. Jesus on the Mountain 175 

30. The Good Army Captain 181 

31. How Jesus Stopped a Funeral 183 

32. The Sinful Woman Forgiven 189 

33. Jesus and His Enemies 192 

34. The Story-teller by the Sea 195 

35. More Stories Told by the Sea 199 

36. Sailing Across the Sea 205 

37. The Sick Woman Made Well, and the Dead Girl 

Brought to Life 211 

38. Sight to the Blind and Voice to the Dumb 216 

39. Twelve Preachers Sent Out 218 

40. A Dance; and How It Was Paid For 223 

41. The Boy with His Five Loaves 227 

42. How the Sea Became a Floor 233 

43. The Bread of Life 235 

44. Jesus in a Strange Country 239 

45. In the Land of the Ten Cities 242 

46. A<;ain on the Sea of Galilee 246 

47. The Great Confession 249 

48. The Vision on the Mountain 255 

49. The Boy with the Dumb Spirit 259 

50. The Last Visit to Capernaum 262 

51 . ( Jood-bye to Galilee 267 

6 



Content* 



CHAPTER PAGE 

52. Passing Through Samaria 271 

53. The Scribe's Question; and Mary's Choice 275 

54. Jesus at the Feast of Tents 281 

55. Jesus and the Sinful Woman 285 

56. The Blind Man at the Pool of Siloam 290 

57. The Good Shepherd 296 

58. Sending Out the Seventy 300 

59. Lazarus Called Out of His Tomb 303 

60. Jesus Preaching in Perea 311 

61. In the Church and at the Feast 317 

62. On Counting the Cost 321 

63. Seeking the Lost 324 

64. The Parable of the Lost Son Found 328 

65. The Parable of the Dishonest Steward 333 

66. A Parable for the Lovers of Money 336 

67. Two Parables Upon Prayer 339 

68. The Little Children; and the Rich Young Man. . 341 

69. The Workers in the Vineyard 346 

70. The Blind Man at the Gate 351 

71. In the Rich Man's Home at Jericho 353 

72. The Alabaster Jar 357 

73. Palm Sunday 362 

74. Monday on the Mount and in the Temple 367 

75. Tuesday Morning in the Temple 371 

76. Three Parables of Warning 375 

77. The Head on the Coin 379 

78. The Woman with Seven Husbands 382 

79. The Greatest of All the Commandments 385 

80. The Greatest Gift; and the Strangers from Afar 388 



7 



Contents! 

CHAPTER PAGE 

81. Jesus Telling of Dark Days to Come 391 

82. The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids 395 

83. The Parable of the Talents 398 

84. The Last Great Day 402 

85. Washing the Disciples' Feet 405 

86. The Lord's Supper 410 

87. The Vine and the Branches 412 

88. The Last Words of Jesus to His Disciples 416 

89. In the Garden of Cethsemane 421 

90. Jesus Before Annas 427 

91. Jesus Before Caiaphas 431 

92. Jesus Before the Roman Governor 439 

93. Jesus Before Herod 442 

94. Jesus Sentenced to Death 445 

95. Jesus Led to ( alyary 453 

96. Jesus on the ( Iross 459 

97. The Tomb in the Garden 465 

98. The Risen ( 'hrist and the Empty Tomb 469 

99. Jesus and Mary Magdalene 475 

100. A Walk with the Risen Christ 479 

101. Two Sunday Evenings with the Risen Christ 483 

102. The Breakfast by the Sea 487 

103. Jesus Rising up from Earth to Heaven 493 



W&ty €berpbobp ^{joulb ^ttoto tfje g>torp 
of Jesus 

THERE HAVE been many famous men in this 
world, and every one wishes to know who they 
were and why they are called great. In almost 
every city in America may be seen a statue of George 
Washington, or Abraham Lincoln, or Benjamin Franklin, 
or General Lee, or General Grant. Whenever you see 
one of these statues, you ask — if you do not know alread}^ 
— who this man was and why his statue has been set up. 
In Canada, every house has on the wall a portrait of 
the great and good Queen Victoria and when a child 
sees it he wishes to know something of her life and her 
greatness. You see pictures of a man standing on the 
deck of a ship, or going ashore under palm trees on an 
island, and are told that he is Christopher Columbus — 
and every child in America knows something of his 
story. Men like Xapoleon Bonaparte, and Julius Caesar, 
and Alexander the Great, are written about, and talked 
about; and every child should know who these men 
were and why they arc famous. 

Did you ever think that there is one man who has 
been talked about, and written about, and sung about, 
more than any other man in all the world; and that man 
is Jesus? For one book telling of Washington, or Napo- 
leon, or Columbus, there are hundreds of books telling 
of Jesus. Every year at least fifteen million copies of 
the Bible are printed and sent out into the world, in 
every language spoken on this earth. Why does every- 
body wish to have a Bible in his house? It is because 
that book tells of Jesus. If the pages that tell of Jesus 

9 



^urltjut'S £>torp of Jesusi 



should be torn out of the Bible, few people would care 
to have it or to read it. 

There are more portraits of Jesus Christ, painted 
and drawn and printed, than of any other man who has 
ever lived. Everybody knows the picture of Jesus 
as soon as he sees it, whether it be of the baby Jesus in 
his mother's arms, or the boy Jesus in the Temple, or 
the Saviour teaching, or dying upon the cross. You do 
not need to be told which one in any picture is Jesus — 
his face is so well known that you know it at once. No 
other face among all the men who have ever lived from 
Adam the first man down to today, is known to as many 
people as the face of Jesus. Then, too, look in the hj^mn 
books of the churches and the song books of the Sunda3 r - 
schools, and see how many of the hymns and songs are 
in praise of Jesus Christ. You do not find songs in 
praise of Julius Caesar, nor of Christopher Columbus, 
nor even of George Washington. No one who gives it 
thought doubts that the most famous man in all the 
world is Jesus Christ; and because he is so famous and 
so great, every one should know something of his life. 

Then, too, everybody likes to hear stories of wonder- 
ful things. Even though we know that they are not 
true stories, every one listens to fairy tales and the 
stories of the " Arabian Nights." But how often, when 
the story is ended, the child looks up to the story-teller's 
face and says, "Is it all true?" Now, the story of Jesus 
is full of wonders. You read of his turning water into 
wine when the guests at the feast needed it, of his touch- 
ing the e3^es of a blind man and giving him sight, of his 
speaking to the storm and bringing peace, of his walking 
upon the waters in another storm to help his friends in 
danger, and, most wonderful of all, of his coming out 
of bis own tomb living, after he had died. Wonderful 
indeed are the stories told of Jesus; and the greatest 
10 



fturibut's; g>torj> of Jesus 



wonder is that they are all true. You would like to hear 
those stories, I am sure; and every child should know 
them and be able to tell them to others. 

Let me give you another reason why every one 
should know T the story of Jesus. He came to show us 
who God is, what God is to us, and how God feels toward 
us. Every one, even every child, thinks of God and in 
his heart wishes to know about God. How terribly 
some people have mistaken God! They have thought 
of him as an enemy, not as a friend. You can see in 
some countries images of a person with forty arms, and 
on every hand something to kill a man with — a sword, 
a spear, an arrow, a club, a cup of poison, or some other 
fearful thing — and that is the thought of God in that 
land: a mighty being who hates men! In old times, 
many people thought that their gods were pleased when 
men killed their own children and burned their bodies 
on an altar as an offering to God. God saw all over the 
earth that men had wrong and cruel thoughts of him; 
and he sent his Son Jesus Christ to teach men by his 
words, and to show men in his life what God is, how God 
feels toward us, and how we should feel toward God. 
If Jesus had done no more for us than to teach us the 
Lord's Prayer, beginning with the words "Our Father 
who art in heaven," he would have done enough to 
make us love him. He showed people that God is their 
Father, the Father of every one in all the world, and 
that as a Father we may call upon him, just as any child 
can go to his father for whatever he needs. 

There was once an artist who was called upon to 
paint the portrait of a good man. But the man had 
died ten years before; the artist had never seen him, and 
there was no picture of him to be used as a copy. At 
first the artist did not know what to do. Then a 
thought occurred to him. 

11 



^urltnit's &torp of fesusi 



"Is there do one," he said, "who looks like this 
man. so thai I can see him and know something of the 
man's face?" 

"Why. yes." they answered. "He has left a son, 
a man grown, who looks exactly like his father." 

The artist studied the face of the son, and from it 
painted a likeness of the father, whom he had never 
seen. No one has ever seen God, but if we would know, 
not his face which we cannot know, but his nature, how 
kind, and loving, and helpful, and willing God is, we 
have only to think of Christ; and if we know Christ, 
the Son of God, we know God, his Father and our Father. 
For this reason, because in Jesus we may know God, 
everybody should know about Jesus. 

But Jesus came to this w r orld, not only to show us 
what God is, but to show us what we should be and how 
we should live. Whatever his work may be, every one 
needs a copy which lie can look at and follow. The child 
who is learning to write must have a copy, so that he 
may know how to shape his letters. The boy or girl 
learning to draw has a copy or a model to guide him in 
his drawing. When a man is about to build a ship, he 
first makes a model and then shapes his great ship 
exactly like it. Perhaps you have heard the lines in 
Longfellow's poem, "The Building of the Ship." 

"In the shipyard stood the Master, 

With the model of the vessel 

Thai should Laugh at all disaster, 

And with wave and whirlwind wrestle." 

Well, we are all builders. Each one of us, boy or 
girl, man or woman, is building for himself what no one 
else can build for him: his character, what he is to be, 
whether good or bad, whether wise or ignorant, whether 
noble or selfish. And in building up ourselves we need 



SlurHmt'S g>torp of f e£u* 



a model, one perfect man, on whom we can look and 
whose life we can cop} r . That model we can find in 
Jesus. He lived our life, and in living showed us how 
we should live. Even a little child may say, "Jesus 
was once a little child; and I wall try my best to be just 
such a child as he was." A boy of twelve may think of 
Jesus as a boy and resolve to live as Jesus lived. The 
young man, working in a shop, or office, or in the field, 
ma}- take Jesus the workingman for his pattern. When 
Jesus was on the earth, he said many times, and to 
different people, " Follow me!" He says it to every one 
of us. But if we are to follow Jesus and to be like him, 
the best man that ever lived, we must study him, must 
know about his life, must have every story of him in our 
mind and in our heart; and that is another reason why 
every one should know the story of Jesus. 

It is now almost two thousand years since Jesus 
lived on the earth and walked among men. Since he 
came, the world has become a different world, just as far 
as they have heard the story of Jesus and have learned 
to follow him. People have become less selfish and more 
thoughtful of others, more willing to help others, more 
generous in giving to others. Think of all the homes for 
the poor, of all the hospitals for the sick, of all the places 
where little children are cared for, of the playgrounds, 
of the love shown at Christmas time, of ten thousand 
ways in which the world is better. And then remember 
that all these good things come from Jesus Christ and 
his love in the hearts of men. But for Jesus, this would 
have been a dark world. The proof of this is that these 
good things arc to be seen only in the lands where Jesus 
is known and loved and followed. Look at the lands 
where Christ is unknown and you find them dark and 
sad. There is still much to be done to make this a 
perfect world. We see terrible wars, and the poor still 

13 



^urltnit's; g>torp of 3 esu£ 



suffering wrong, and many people still selfish and cruel 
to their fellow-men. What can we do to make this a 
better and a brighter world? We can do as Jesus did. 
It was said of him, "He went about doing good"; and 
that may be said of us if we will follow Christ. But 
to make this world good, we must know him who is its 
power for goodness; and that is another reason why 
every one should know the story of Jesus. 

Let me name only one reason more why we should 
know the story of Jesus: through him we have what we 
need most of all — the forgiveness of our sins. Suppose 
that someone who watches us all the time should keep 
a list of every wrong-doing, of every fiery temper, of 
every angry word, of every blow struck, of every time 
that one of us failed to do what is right, of every time 
that one let pass a chance to do some good act to another 
— what a long list it would be! There is such a list kept. 
An eye that never sleeps sees every act, the eye of God; 
and he remembers all our deeds, and the things left 
undone which we ought to have done. Is there any way 
to have that list against us taken away, blotted out and 
forgotten? Yes, there is one who can take our sins 
away and make the black story of our life as white as 
snow. That one is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He 
can forgive our sins, as he forgave the sins of men while 
lie was on the earth; and he longs to have us ask him 
for forgiveness. Should we not love him for this? And 
should we not wish to hear about him and to know all the 
tender story of his love? 

These, then, are some of the reasons why we should 
all seek to know the story of Jesus: because he is the 
greatest and most famous man that ever lived; because 
his story is full of interest and full of wonders, and is 
true: because he came to show us how kind and loving 
God is, and how willing to have us call upon him; because 
14 



Hurlbut'S g>torp of fesu* 



his life shows us a pattern of what we may be and tells 
us how w r e may be like him ; because Jesus has made and 
is still making the world better, and brighter, and happier, 
wherever he is known; and best of all, because through 
Jesus our Saviour our sins may be forgiven and taken 
away, and we may be pure and holy as Jesus was upon 
the earth. 

With these thoughts and aims, this Story of Jesus 
has been written. May it help many, young and old, 
to know Jesus better, to love him more, and to follow 
him more closely! 



15 




L6 



CHAPTER 1 

FIRST OF ALL, let us take a journey to the land 
where Jesus lived. We will sail in one of the big- 
ocean steamers across the Atlantic, heading our 
prow a little to the south, and in eight days will pause 
at the Rock of Gibraltar, which stands on guard at the 
gate of the Mediterranean Sea. Do 3^011 know what "Med- 
iterranean" means? It means, "among the lands"; and 
when 3'ou look at this sea on the map, } r ou see that it has 
lands around it on every side, with only a narrow opening at 
Gibraltar, where its blue waters pour into the Atlantic Ocean. 

We will enter the Mediterranean Sea, and sail its 
entire length, past Spain and France and Italy on the 
left . We just miss touching the toe of Italy, for you 
know Italy runs into the sea like a great leg with a 
high-heeled boot upon its foot. And just be} r ond Italy 
we sail by Greece, which looks somewhat like a hand 
with fingers wide apart. 

While we are passing 03- these lands on the left, 
we are also sailing past Morocco and Algiers, and Tunis 
and Tripoli on the right. We stop at Alexandria in 
Egypt, at one of the mouths of the river Nile, and 
soon after we leave the big steamer at Port Said, where 
the great Suez Canal begins. 

There in the afternoon about ten days after our 
leaving America, we go on board a smaller ship, and 
sail northward past the eastern shore of the Mediter- 
ranean Sea. The next morning we awake to find our 
ship at anchor in front of a city on a hillside, rising 
up in terraces from the water. 

2 17 



(Efje Horbsi Hanb 



That cit} r is now called Jaffa, or Yafa; and it is 
the place where the steamers stop to send ashore those 
who are about to visit the Holy Land, for that is the 
name given to the land where Jesus lived. Do you 
remember in the Old Testament the story of Jonah, the 
prophet who tried to run awaA' from God's call to preach 
in the city of Nineveh? Well, it was from this city of 
Jaffa, then called Joppa, that Jonah started on his 
voyage, which ended inside the big fish. Perhaps you 
remember also the story of Dorcas, in the New Testa- 




The Mediterranean Sea 

ment, that good woman who helped the poor; and 
after dying was raised to life through the prayer of 
the Apostle Peter. Dorcas too lived at Joppa; and 
they show the house where, it is said, Peter stayed while 
he was visiting in that city. 

Here at Jaffa or Joppa we end our long sea-vo}^age 
of about six thousand miles. We go ashore in a small 
boat, tossing up and down on the waves, for there is 
no wharf where a steamer can land its passengers. And 
now we are standing on the soil of the Holy Land, where 
.Ions lived. In Christ's time this land was called Judea. 
Jn our day its name is Palestine. 
18 



ZEfje lorb'S Hanb 



It is a small country. If you will turn to the map 
of the United States, and look at New Hampshire, 
you will see a state in form quite like Palestine, and 
only a little smaller in size; for Palestine, or the Holy 
Land, contains about twelve thousand square miles, 
and New 
Hampshire a 
little more 
than nine 
thousand. 

From 
Joppa we 
must go 
across Pales- 
tine if we 
would look at 
the part of the 
land among 
the moun- 
tains where 
Jesus lived. 
We can now 
ride in a rail- 
road train, 
some thing 
that Jesus 
never saw 

while he lived on the earth; or we can go in a carriage, 
or on a horse, or on the back of a camel, as you will 
see some people riding, or in what they call "a palan- 
keen," which is something like a coach-body set not on 
wheels, but between two pair of shafts, one in front, the 
other behind, and a mule harnessed in each pair, so 
that the rider has one mule in front and the other back 
of him. 

19 




There is no real harbor at Jaffa. Steamers must anchor 

some distance out, and passengers are landed 

by rowboats 



Cfte TLovV* ILanh 



As we ride over the land we notice that at first 
it is vety level. This part of the country is called "the 
Sea Coast Plain," and a plain it surely is, almost as 
level as a floor. All around, } r ou see gardens and farms, 
orange trees and fig trees. If you could pluck one of 
these golden oranges and taste it, you would find that 
it is one of the sweetest and richest and juiciest that 
you have ever eaten, for the Jaffa oranges are famous 







1 





House of Simon, the tanner, in Joppa, where Peter stayed while 
visiting in that city 

for thoir flavor. You ride between great fields of wheat 
and rye and barley, for this Sea Coast Plain is a rich 
farming land. 

But after a few miles, ten or fifteen, we notice that 
we have left the plain and are winding and climbing 
among hills. In place of the farm-lands, we see here 
and there flocks of sheep with shepherds guarding them, 
just as the boy David watched over his flock three 
thousand years ago. Indeed, in our journey we might 
pass over the very brook where David found the round, 
20 



®f)e %ovb'& lanb 



smooth stones, one of which he hurled with a sling into 
the giant Goliath's forehead. This is the region of low 
hills, the foothills of the higher mountains beyond. It 
is called "the Shephelah," a name not easy to remember. 
In the Old Testament days, many battles were fought 
on these hills between the Israelites and the Philistines, 
their fierce enemies. 

These foothills of the Shephelah are not many 
miles wide; and beyond them we come to the real 
Mountain Region of Palestine. Mountains rise on 
every hand, bare, stony, 
with scarcely any soil upon 
their steep sides, and with 
not a tree to be seen for 
miles. They are rocky 
crags, with here and there 
a village perched on their 
summits or clinging to 
their walls. This moun- 
tain land, more than the 
hills and plains below, was 
the home of the Israelites, 
the people from whom 
Jesus came. We wonder 
how they could ever have found a living in such a desolate 
land; but everywhere we see the ruins of old cities, showing 
thai once the land was filled with people. In those times, 
two thousand and more years ago, all these mountain- 
sides, now bleak and rock-bound, were covered with 
terraces, where grew olive trees, fig trees and vineyards; 
where gardens blossomed and great crops were raised 
to feed the people. Even now in the spring and early 
summer, the valleys between these mountains are cov- 
ered with flowers of every color. Scarcely another land 
on earth has as man}- wild flowers as this land of Pal- 

21 




:ddled camel 



Zi)t Horb's Hanb 



estine. This mountain-belt, running from the north to 
the south throughout the land was the part of Palestine 
where nearly all the great men of Israel lived and died. 
Here among the mountains in the south is Bethlehem, 
where Jesus was born. In a mountain village in the 
north. Nazareth, was the home of Jesus during nearly 
all his life; and over these mountains even-where in the 
land, Jesus walked in the three years of his preaching 
and teaching. 

W e pass over these mountains from east to west, 
and then from the heights we look down to a valley 
which runs north and south, the deepest in all the world, 
where we can see a little river with many windings, and 
rapids and falls, rolling onward to drop at last into a 
blue lake in the south. This river, as you know, is 
the Jordan, crossed by the Israelites when they first 
came to this land; the river where Xaaman washed 
away his leprosy, where Elijah struck the waves with 
his mantle and parted them, and in whose water Jesus 
was baptized. 

We journey across this Jordan valley, from ten to 
twenty miles wide, and then we climb again high and 
steep mountains. This region is called the Eastern 
Table Land, because the mountains gradually sink down 
to a great desert plain on the east, Here we see the 
ruins of once great cities, where now only a few wan- 
dering Arabs pitch their tents. 

We have now crossed the land of Palestine, and 
we have found that it contains five parts lying in a line: 
first, the Sea Coast Plain; second, the Shephelah, or 
foothills; third, the Mountain Region; fourth, the 
Jordan valley; and fifth, the Eastern Table Land. 

Bui we must keep in mind that the land when 
Jesus lived there was very different from the land as 
we see it. Now it is a poor land; then it was rich. 
22 



ftfje lorb'S Hanb 



Now its villages are made of miserable mud-houses, 
where live people who look half starved; then it was 
a land of well-built towns and happy people. Now we 
find roads that are mere tracks over the stones; then 
there were good roads everywhere. Now the hills rise 
bare and rocky; then they were covered with gardens. 
Now scarcely a tree can be seen in miles of travel; then 
the olive and the vine and the palm grew everywhere. 
We see the land in its ruin; Jesus saw it in its riches. 




The valley of Gehenna, to the east of Jerusalem 



23 



Z\)t people in tfje Horb'g Hanb 

CHAPTER 2 

NEARLY ALL the people living in Palestine in the 
time of Jesus were of the Jewish race. Two 
thousand years before Jesus came, a great man 
was living in that land, named Abraham. To this man, 
God gave a promise that his children and their children 
after them for many ages should live in that land and 
own it. Abraham's son was named Isaac, and Isaac's 
son was named Jacob. All the people of Palestine had 
spiung from the family of Jacob, and by the time Jesus 
came, these descendants of Jacob, as they were called, 
were in number many millions, and were to be found in 
other lands besides Palestine; although more of them 
lived in Palestine than in any other land. 

Jacob, Abraham's grandson, was also named Israel; 
and on that account all the people sprung from him 
were called the Israelites. Jacob or Israel had twelve 
sons, from whom came the twelve tribes of Israel. But 
one son, named Judah, had more descendants or people 
springing from him than any other; and as most of 
the people in Palestine were of Judah's family, all of 
them were spoken of as Jews, a word which means 
sprung or descended from Judah. So the people to 
whom Jesus belonged were sometimes called Israel- 
ites, but more often Jews. They had another name, 
" Hebrews," but. that was not used as often as the two 
names, Israelites and Jews. 

For many years, long before Jesus came, the Jews 
were rulers in the land of Palestine, with kings of their 
own pace, as David and Solomon in the early times, 
24 



TOje people in tfje TLovb'X HanD 

and King Jeroboam and King Hezekiah later. But in 
the time of Jesus, the Jews were no longer rulers in 
their own land. Palestine was then a small part of 
the vast Roman Empire, which ruled all the lands around 
the Mediterranean Sea. Its chief was an emperor, who 
lived at Rome in Italy. At the time when Jesus was 
born the emperor was Augustus. He was then an old 
man, and died very soon after the birth of Jesus. The 




Tiberias, on the Sea of Galilee, where Herod lived 

emperor who followed him was named Tiberius, and 
he ruled most of the years that Jesus was living in 
Palestine. 

But there was another king ruling the land of 
Palestine under the Roman emperor, at the time when 
Jesus came. His name was Herod, and because he 
was a very wise and strong man, although a very wicked 
man, he was called Herod the Great. He ruled the 
land of Palestine, but in his turn obeyed the orders of 

25 



Cfje people in tfje TLotb'Z TLanh 

the emperor Augustus at Rome. Herod also was a 
very old man at the time of Jesus' birth, and died soon 
afterward. 

When Herod the Great died, his kingdom was 
divided into four parts. Each of these parts had a 
king of its own, and three of these kings were Herod's 
sons. Herod Antipas ruled over Galilee in the north- 
west, and Perea in the southeast; Herod Philip was 
over the country in the northeast; and Herod Archelaus 
ruled the largest portion, in the south. Xone of these 
little kings were good men. They had their father's 
wickedness, but did not have his ability to rule. One 
of them, Archelaus, was so bad that all the people asked 
the emperor at Rome to take his rule away. This the 
emperor did, and sent a man from Rome to govern the 
land in his place. You have heard of the Roman gov- 
ernor who was over this part of the land while Jesus 
was teaching. His name was Pontius Pilate; and he 
it was, you remember, who sent Jesus to die upon the 
cross. 

The land of Palestine at that time was divided into 
five parts, which were called "provinces." The largest 
of these provinces was Judea, the one on the south, 
between the Dead Sea and the river Jordan on the 
east, and the Mediterranean Sea on the west. North 
of Judea was a small province called Samaria, where 
lived a people who were not Jews but Samaritans. The 
Jews hated the Samaritans, and the Samaritans, in 
turn, hated the Jews. Samaria was governed as a 
part of Judea, not with a separate ruler. These were 
the two provinces at first under Archelaus and then 
under the Roman governor. 

In the north of Palestine, west of the river Jordan 
and the Sea of Galilee, was the province of Galilee, a 
country full of mountains, where Jesus dwelt for nearly 
26 



tEfje people in tfje Sorb's; Hanb 



all his life. The ruler of this province was Herod 
Antipas. He lived most of the time at a city which 
he had built 
beside the Sea 
of Galilee, and 
had named 
Tiberias, after 
the Roman 
emperor Tibe- 
rius. 

Across 
the Jordan, on 
the east, op- 
posite to Gal- 
ilee was an- 
other prov- 
ince. In the 
Old Testa- 
ment times, 
this land had 
been called 
Bashan, which 
means "wood- 
land/ 'because 
it was a land 
of many for- 
ests. In the 
New Testa- 
ment time it 
was generally 
spoken of as 

"Philip's province," because its ruler was Herod Philip, 
the best of Herod's sons, and none too good, either. 

South of Philip's province, and east of the river 
Jordan, was a province named Perea, a word meaning 

27 




Samuel anointing Saul to be the first king of Israel 



®f)E people in tije Sorb's Hanb 



"beyond/' because this region was beyond or across the 
river Jordan. At the time of Jesus' life, Perea was 
like Galilee, ruled by Herod Antipas. Once at least 

Jesus visited this province; 
and here he told the Par- 
able of the Prodigal Son, 
which everybody has 
heard. 

Although the mighty 
Roman empire gave to 
the Jews in Palestine a 
government that was just 
and fair, it was not a Jewish 
rule; and the Jews were 
not contented under the 
power of foreigners. They 
felt that they more than 
other nations were the 
people of God, and that 
they had a right to rule 
themselves, under kings of 
their own race. Also they 
read in their Bible the 
promises of the prophets 
that from Israel should 
come forth a king, out of 
David's line, who should 
rule the world. 

This great King, whom 
the Jews hoped for and 
a heathen idol looked for, they called 

"Messiah," a word in the Jews' language meaning the 
same as the word "Christ," which is a Greek word, 
meaning "the Anointed One," that is, "the King." You 
remember that in the Old Testament story the prophet 
28 




GTfje people in tfje HorfcTs Hanb 



Samuel anointed Saul to be the first king of Israel, that 
is, he poured oil on his head; and that afterward he 
chose the boy David to be the next king by the same 
sign. When we say "Jesus Christ/' Jesus is his name 
and " Christ" is his title; and we mean " Jesus the King." 

We know that this promised King whom the Jews 
called Messiah was Jesus Christ who rules over the 
hearts of men every- 
where; but the Jews 
thought that it meant 
a king like Herod or 
the emperor Tiberius, 
only better and wiser, 
who should live in a 
palace at Jerusalem, 
their chief city, and 
make all lands obey 
his will. This hope 
made the Jews very 
restless and unhappy 
under the Roman 
power. They were 
always looking for the 
coining of this mighty 
King of the Jews, who 
should lead them to 
conquer the earth. 

In their worship 
the Jews were different from all the rest of the world. 
Every other people had gods of wood and stone, images 
before which they bowed and to which they gave offer- 
ings. In all the cities of that world were temples and 
altars to these idols, made by the hands of men. But 
in the land of the Jews were no images, no idol-temples, 
and no offerings to man-made gods. The Jews, whether 

29 




Interior of Jewish synagogue in Palestine 



&fje people in tfje lorb's TLanh 

in Palestine or in other lands, worshipped the One God 
who was unseen, the God to whom we also pray. In 
their chief city, Jerusalem, was a splendid temple where 
God was worshipped; and in every Jewish city and town 
were churches, where the people met to read the Bible, 
to sing the psalms of David, to offer prayer to God, 
and to talk together about God's laws. These churches 
were called "synagogues," and wherever Jews lived, 
synagogues were to be found. The Jews looked with 
great contempt upon the idol-worship of other nations, 
and were proud of the fact that ever since the days of 
their father Abraham, they had worshipped only the 
Lord God. 




Ruins of ancient synagogue at Kefr 
Birim, in Galilee 



30 



Gtfje Stranger bp tlje #o!ben &Itar 

CHAPTER 3 

IN THE land of Palestine one city was loved by the 
Jews above all other places. That was Jerusalem, 
the largest city in the land in the province of Judea. 
It was to the Jews everywhere, not only in Palestine 
but over all the earth, wherever Jews lived, "the holy 
city." From all parts of the land the people came at 
least once in every year, and many families, three times 
each year, to worship God in Jerusalem. At these great 
feasts, as they were called, all the roads leading to Jeru- 
salem were thronged with travelers going up to Jerusalem 
for worship. And the Jews in other lands, many hun- 
dreds of miles away, even as far as Rome itself, tried 
at least once in their lives to visit the city. They sang 
about Jerusalem songs such as: 

"If I forget thee, Jerusalem, 
Let my right hand forget her cunning; 
Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth 
If I remember thee not, 
If I prefer not Jerusalem 
Above my chief joy." 

That which made Jerusalem a holy city was its 
Temple, a magnificent building on Mount Moriah, just 
across a valley from Mount Zion, where the larger part 
of the city stood. The Temple they called "The House 
of God," for in it the Jews believed their God made 
his home. In front of this Temple stood an altar, which 
was like a great box made of stone, hollow inside, and 
covered with a metal grating. Upon his altar a fire 
was kept burning night and day, and on the fire the 

31 



HL\)t Stranger bp tfje #olben 2Utar 



priests who led in the worship of God, laid offerings of 
sheep and oxen, which were burned as gifts to God; 
while around the altar the people stood and prayed to 
God as the offering, which the}- called "a sacrifice," 
was burning. 

Inside the Temple building were two rooms. The 
room in front was called "the holy place," and in it 
stood on one side a table covered with gold, on which 
lay twelve loaves of bread as an offering to God; one 

loaf for each 
of the twelve 
tribes of Is- 
rael. On the 
other side of 
the room 
stood a golden 
lamp -stand, 
with seven 
b ranc h e s, 
called "the 
golden can- 
dlestick." At 
the farther 

Looking up the Kedron Valley toward Mt. Moriah onr l n f +V.p 

room stood another altar, made of gold, smaller than 
the great altar in front of the Temple. On this golden 
altar the priest offered twice each day a bowl of incense, 
which was made by mixing some sweet-smelling gums, 
frankincense and myrrh, and burning them, so that they 
inn i icd a fragrant white cloud, filling the Holy Place. 

Beyond the Holy Place was another room called 
"The Holy of Holies." Into this room no one entered 
except the high priest, and he on only one day in the 
year; for this inner room was set apart for the dwelling- 
place of God; and the Jews believed that in this room 
32 




Cfje Stranger bp tfje #olben Sltar 

the light of God was shining so brightly that no one 
could endure it. In the first Temple built by King 
Solomon, the Ark of the Covenant stood in the Holy 
of Holies. This was a chest covered with gold, within 
which lay the two stone tables on which the Ten Com- 
mandments were written. But the Ark of the Covenant 




The Mosque of Omar, now on the place where the Temple once stood 

had been lost, and in the time of which we are speaking, 
nothing was in the Holy of Holies except a block of 
marble. 

One day an old priest named Zacharias was offer- 
ing incense upon the golden altar in the Holy Place. 
He had filled the bowl, which they called a censer, with 
the frankincense and myrrh, and had placed in it some 
coals of fire from the great altar in front of the Temple. 
3 33 



Z\)t Stranger bv tfte Soften aitar 



He had come into the Holy Place, bringing his censer of 
incense, which sent its white cloud into the air, and was 
just about to lay it upon the altar, when he was startled 
at suddenly seeing someone standing by the golden altar 
on the right side. 

Zacharias was surprised to see anyone in the room, 
for he knew that no one but himself had a right to be 
there. But he was still more surprised and filled with 




High Priest, altar of incense, table for shew bread, and Ark of the Covenant 



fear when he looked at this stranger standing by the 
altar. He seemed like a young man, and his face and 
body and clothes were bright and shining like the sun, 
so glorious that the old priest could not bear to look 
upon him. 

At once Zacharias knew that this glorious person 
was an angel sent from God. He trembled with fear; 
his knees shook, and he could scarcely keep from falling 
on the floor. The angel spoke to him, gently and 
kindly: 
34 



TOje Stranger bp tf)e #olben Sltar 



"Zacharias, do not be frightened. You have 
nothing to fear. I have come to you with good news. 
God has heard the prayers that you and your good wife 
Elizabeth have been sending up to heaven for these 
man} r 3-ears. You shall have a son, and shall call his 
name John. Your son when he becomes a man will 
bring J03- and gladness to many people; for he shall be 
great in the sight of the Lord; and it shall be his work 
to make his people ready for the coming of the King 
for who m 
t h e y have 
been looking 
so long. You 
must see that 
your son 
never drinks 
any wine or 
strong drink, 
for he is to be 
set apart for 
God, to serve 
God only, and 
to speak the The g0,den cand,estick 

word of God to the people, telling them that their King 
and Saviour is at hand." 

The priest was so filled with surprise and fear that 
he could scarcely believe what he heard. 

"How can these wonderful words be true?" he said. 
"I am an old man, and my wife is also old. We are too 
old now to have children. How can I believe all this?" 

The angel was not pleased when he saw that Zach- 
arias doubted his word, and he said: 

"I am the angel Gabriel, that stands before God; 
and I have been sent from God to speak to you and 
to bring you this good news. Now, because you did 

35 




Cf)e Stranger bp tfje (golben &itar 



not believe God's word, you shall be stricken dumb, 
and shall not be able to speak until my words come 
true and your child is born." 

And then the angel vanished out of sight as sud- 
denly as he had come, and Zacharias was left alone. 

All this time a greal crowd of people was standing 
outside the Temple, worshipping God while the offer- 
ing was made. They wondered that Zacharias was 
waiting s<> long in the Temple; and they wondered 
more when he came out. and they found that he could 
not speak. He made signs to them, trying to show 
them he had seen an angel, but he did not tell them 
what the angel had said, for that was meant for him- 
self only and not for others. 

Each priest stayed for one week in the Temple and 
then went to his house; so after a few days Zacharias 
Left Jerusalem and returned to his house in the southern 
part of the land, not far from the old city of Hebron, 
the place where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the early 
fathers of the Israelites, were buried. 

How happy Elizabeth was when her husband, by 
signs and by writing, told her of the angel and his 
promise that she should be the mother of one who was 
to bear the word of the Lord to the people. Such men, 
to whom God spoke and who spoke for God, were called 
•prophets." Many great prophets in past years had 
spoken the word of God to the Israelites, men like Samuel 
and Elijah and Isaiah. But more than four hundred 
years had passed away since the voice of a prophet 
had been heard in the land. Their promised son was 
to rise up and speak once more God's will to his people. 
Zacharias and Elizabeth might not live long enough to 
hear his voice as a prophet, but they had God's promise, 
and in that promise they were happy, waiting for their 
child to come and grow up to his great work. 



36 



CHAPTER 4 

FOR OUR next story we visit Nazareth, a village 
in Galilee, nearly seventy miles north of Jeru- 
salem. Galilee, as we have seen, was the northern 
province or division of the land, lying between the river 
Jordan and the Great Sea. The lower part of Galilee 
is a great plain, called " the plain of Esdraelon," or "the 
plain of Jezreel," where many battles have been fought 
in past times. The upper part of Galilee is everywhere 
mountains and valleys, with villages perched on the 
mountain tops or clinging to their sides, and sometimes 
nestled in the valleys. Just where the plain ends and 
the mountains begin, we find a long range of steep hills. 
If we climb to the top of this range, on one side we 
see the plain stretched out, and far in the distance the 
Mediterranean Sea; and on the other, or northern slope 
of the hills, we come to the cit}^ of Nazareth. There 
the mother of Jesus lived as a young girl before her 
son was born, and there Jesus lived during most of 
his life. 

Nazareth is there still, although many of the old 
towns in that land have passed away; and now it is 
quite a city, but in the time of which we are telling 
it was only a village. All around it are hills. One 
can stand in the town and count fifteen hills and moun- 
tains, all in sight. 

Its narrow streets climb the hills between rows of 
one-story white houses, many of them having a little 
dome on the roof. Around each roof in those times of 
which we are telling was a rail with posts on the corners, 

37 




38 



^i)e angel Utssits; Jla^aretfj 



to prevent anj r one on the roof from falling off, for the 
flat roof was used as a place of visiting and of rest, since 
the house inside was dark, having no glass windows, but 
instead only one small hole in the wall. None of these 
houses had a door opening upon the street. Beside 
the road was a high wall, and in it a gate leading to 
an open court, at one end of which stood the house. 

In the village was one fountain, to which all the 
women went for water. There were no wells or pumps 
or pipes with water in the houses; and around the foun- 
tain might be seen in the morning a crowd of women 
bringing water-jars empty, and carrying them home full 
of water, balanced on their heads. No one often saw 
a man carrying a jar of water, for this was looked upon 
as a woman's work. 

In one of those small white houses of Nazareth 
lived a young Jewish girl named Mary. We do not 
know how she looked, for although many artists have 
made pictures of her, all have drawn or painted her 
as they imagined her to be, not as she was. All that 
we reall}' know of Mary, we read in two of the four 
gospels, Matthew and Luke; and neither of these tell 
us anything about her early life or her family. It has 
been said that her father's name was Joachim and her 
mother's was Anna; but this is not found in either of 
the gospels, and we do not know whether it is true. 

We do know, however, that she was a pure-hearted, 
Lovely girl, who served the God of Israel with all her 
heart and lived a holy life. She knew her Bible well, 
we arc sure, for its words came readily to her lips; and 
she was a girl who thought much and talked but little. 
In those years she might have been seen often going 
with the other girls of the village to the fountain for 
water, or sitting in the women's gallery in the church, 
listening thoughtfully to the reading from the Bible, 

39 



ftfje angel T^tt* Jga^aretf) 



and with her rich young voice joining in the chanting 
of David's psalms. 

In that land girls are promised in marriage while 
very young, and Alary was at this time promised to 
be married to a man named Joseph, who was a car- 
penter, or, as he is called in the gospels, a worker in 




The well of the Virgin Mary, at Nazareth 

wood. The two families, Joseph's and Mary's, were 
not rich. They belonged to the working class of people, 
but they were not like many, wretchedly poor. They 
were just plain, honest, working people, able to earn a 
comfortable living. 

Although Joseph and Mary were of the common 
people, they came from the noblest blood in all the 
land. Both were sprung from the royal line of David, 

40 




Mary beheld the angel (iabriel suddenly beaming upon her. 



■II 



Cfje Sngel "^Xistte i?a?aretf) 



the greatest of the kings of Israel, and the singer of 
many beautiful psalms. The}' lived in little one-room 
houses, and their hands were hard from work, but they 
could trace their line back to the palace where David 
the founder of their family dwelt. 

On one day Alary was alone. It may have been 
in her own little home, or upon its roof, where she 
often went for prayer, or perhaps under a tree on the 
hillside near the village. Just as Zacharias a few months 
before had seen a heavenly, gloriously-shining being in 
the Temple, so now Alaiy beheld the same angel Gabriel 
suddenly beaming upon her. In a sweet voice he said: 

" Peace be with you, Mary! You are in high favor 
and love, for the Lord is with you!" 

The voice was gentle, but the sight of this shining 
form filled the young girl with alarm. She knew not 
what to think, nor why this glorious being had come 
to her. But after a moment the angel went on speak- 
ing, and said: 

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for God has chosen you 
among all women for his special favor. You shall have 
a son; and you shall give him the name Jesus, because 
he shall save his people from their sins. He shall be 
great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest God. 
God shall give to him the throne and the kingdom of 
his father David. He shall reign forever over the people 
of Israel, and of his kingdom there shall be no end." 

The angel paused and Mary found words to speak, 
tremblingly and with fear: 

"How can all this come to me? I do not under- 
stand what it all means!" 

Then the angel spoke again to the troubled and 
frightened girl: 

"The Holy Spirit of God shall come to you, and 
the power of God shall be upon you; and therefore 
42 



!%e angel "%H#it& Jga^aretf) 



that holy child that is to be given you shall be called 
"The Son of God." Also, let me tell you that your 
cousin Elizabeth is soon to have a son in her old age. 
This may seem strange to you; but no word of God is 
without power. Every promise of God shall surely 
come to pass." 

Then Mary said: 

"I am the Lord's servant, and I can trust him. 
Let it be to me as you have spoken. I will rest with- 
out fear in the will of the Lord." 

Then, as suddenly as he had come, the angel van- 
ished out of sight, and Mary was left alone. She was 
filled with wonder at what she had seen and heard. 
Any young Jewish girl to whom came the news that 
the words of the prophets in the Bible were now to 
come true, that the long-promised King of Israel was 
soon to be born, and that she should be his mother, 
would be amazed and perhaps alarmed at the message. 

Some girls would have talked about it, and might 
even be proud at such an expectation. But Mary's 
was a quiet nature, not apt to speak of her deepest 
thoughts. She felt in some way that there was no one 
in her home or in her village with whom she could speak 
of these things. She hid them silently in her heart, 
hi it thought about them day and night. 



a:\ 




IJizabeth greeting Mary: "Blessed, most blessed are you among women!" 
44 



CHAPTER 5 

AFTER THE visit of the angel and the message 
which he had brought, Mary's mind was filled 
with many thoughts and her heart was full. She 
was only a young girl, not older than sixteen years, 
perhaps as young as fifteen; for if she were older she 
should have been alread} r married. In that land nearly 
all young women are married as soon as they are six- 
teen years old; and very few stay unmarried. 

Mary felt that she must talk with somebody of all 
these wonderful things that had been spoken to her. 
We would think that her mother was the one with whom 
she could open her heart most freely, but we are not 
sure that her mother was living. And is it not true 
that a young girl can sometimes tell to a dear grand- 
mother, or some other old lady who is her friend, the 
deep things of the heart that she may hesitate to men- 
tion even to her own mother? 

She thought of one who was not her grandmother, 
but who from her age and sweetness seemed like one. 
Her mind turned to Elizabeth, living far away in the 
south. The angel, you know, had told her that Eliza- 
beth was also to have a child, and perhaps she would 
be able to understand Mary's feelings better than any 
other woman. 

Elizabeth was related to Mary. She is named in 
the gospel of St. Luke as Mary's cousin, though very 
likely they were not near, but distant relatives. Mary 
knew that she was wise and good, that she loved her, 
and being old, could give her advice. Mary made up 

45 



9 !?oung Girl's Journey 



her mind to visit Elizabeth and open her heart with 
her fully about what the angel had spoken to her. 
From Xazareth to Elizabeth's house was a long dis- 
tance, in a straight line more than eighty miles, but 
much farther by the road which travelers from Galilee 
generally followed in going from the north to the south 
of the land. 

Verj' soon after the angel's visit, Mary left her 
home and began her journey southward. Of course, 
a young girl could not take a journey so long alone. 
But there were always caravans or parties going from 
Galilee to Jerusalem, and Alary would travel with one 
of those companies. A soldier would ride on a horse, 
a general in his chariot, and an Arab on his camel; but 
most men in those times walked, even on long journeys. 
A woman would ride on an ass, which was the animal 
preferred by the Jews for travel. 

We may think of Alary with a beating heart leav- 
ing her home in Xazareth in company with a caravan 
or party of people journeying to Jerusalem to attend 
one of the great feasts held every }^ear in that city. 
Their most direct way would be over the mountains; 
but it would be rough and stony; up one mountain, 
down another, and around a third mountain, nearly 
all the way. Besides, this way would lead them through 
the country of the Samaritans, which lay between Galilee 
and Judea, and such was the hatred between Jews and 
Samaritans that it was scarcely safe for a company of 
Jews to go through their land. A large companj- would 
need to stop by night at some inn, and the Samaritans 
often shut their inns against those who were going to 
Jerusalem. 

The line of travel from Nazareth would be to go 
over the steep hill on the south of their village, then 
follow a well-trodden way eastward down to the river 
46 



3 §otmg (©trl'si Somntp 



Jordan. There they would find a very good road built 
by the Romans, straight down the Jordan Valley, with 
mountains on either side. This they would follow about 
sixty miles until they came to Jericho. There they 
might rest for a few days; and then climb the steep 
path up the mountains to Jerusalem. This Jericho 
road was a hiding place for robbers, and it was never 
safe for anyone to travel it alone. But in a large com- 
pany, with many men, and often a guard of soldiers, 
the travelers need not fear. They would easily reach 
Jerusalem in a week or ten days after leaving Nazareth, 
and might make the journey in five days if they were 
in haste. 

In Jerusalem Mary would visit with some friend. 
All the families in the land had friends in Jerusalem 
with whom they stayed while attending the great feasts, 
of which three were held each year; and the dwellers 
in Jerusalem opened their houses to the same families 
year after year. After the feast, Mary would find 
another caravan or party going home to Hebron and 
the villages near it, and she would travel the rest of 
her journey, about twenty miles, with this party. Alto- 
gether, Mary's journey, from Nazareth to Hebron, was 
nearly one hundred and twenty miles long. Although 
many people were with her all the way, she was alone 
in spirit, for she could speak to no one of the great 
thoughts which burdened her mind and her heart. 

At last her long journey was over. She stopped 
at the door of the house of Zacharias; and in a moment 
was clasped in the arms of Elizabeth. In some strange 
way God had given to Elizabeth to know all that had 
come to Mary. In a loud voice she said: 

" Blessed, most blessed are you among women! 
And blessed among men shall be the son born to you! 
High indeed is the honor mine today when the mother 

47 



g goung (girl's Journep 



of my Lord comes to my home! Blessed is she that 
believed the angel's word, for that word shall surely 
come true!" 

In that moment Mary's feelings, long held in, 
broke out into song. For this } r oung woman's soul 
was not only pure and tender and devout, it was the 
soul of a poet whose thoughts shape themselves into 
verse. Mary spoke and sung a song which has become 
famous. Someone wrote it down, and Saint Luke, who 
wrote the gospel, found a copy of it and gave it to the 
world. Everyone should read it. We give it here. 

MARY'S SONG 

My soul beholds the greatness of the Lord, 

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 

For he hath looked upon his servant in my lowly state; 

And from this time people in all ages shall call me blessed. 

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; 

And holy is his name. 

And his mercy is from age to age 

( )n those who fear him. 

He hath showed strength with his arm; 

He hath scattered the proud in the vain thoughts of their heart. 

He hath put down princes from their thrones, 

And hath lifted up those of humble state. 

The hungry he hath filled with good things; 

And the rich he hath sent empty away. 

He hath given help to Israel his servant 

That he might remember mercy 

As he spoke to our fathers, 

Toward Abraham and his children forever. 



For three months Mary stayed with Elizabeth in 
that quiet home, the old woman and the young woman, 
both soon to be mothers, talked together day after day. 
Perhaps by this time people were going to another feast 

48 



3 $oung dlirf £ Journep 



in Jerusalem, and Mary found again a party of pilgrims 
— for that was the name that they gave to people going 
to Jerusalem to worship — who were returning to Galilee. 
She went home, comforted in spirit and made strong 
by her visit with Elizabeth. 

It was either while Mary was visiting with Eliza- 
beth, or soon after her return to her home, that Joseph, 
her promised husband, began to question in his mind 
whether he ought to marry her. There was a strange 
look in her face, and he saw that she had thoughts in 
her mind of which she could not speak to him. He 
loved her deeply, and it was with sorrow that he asked 
himself whether they would be happy together. 

But one night, while he was sleeping, a dream came 
to Joseph. In his dream he saw an angel standing by 
his side. The angel said to him: 

"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take 
Mary for your wife. She shall have a son; and his 
name shall be Jesus, for it is he that shall save his 
people from their sins." 

The word Jesus, in the language of that people, 
means "Saviour," and often Jesus is spoken of as "Our 
Saviour" because he came to take away our sins. 

After this message, Joseph hesitated no longer. He 
did as the angel had bidden him. He was married to 
Mary, and led her to his own home, in which was also 
the shop where he followed his trade as a carpenter. 



49 



Wt)t pop Wfyo J^eber toteb OTtne 

CHAPTER 6 

NOT LONG after Clary's visit, the child promised 
to Zacharias and Elizabeth was born. In Jew- 
ish families the coming of a child into the home 
was always the cause of great gladness; and the glad- 
ness was greater at the birth of this baby, because this 
was the first child, and the father and mother were old. 
All the friends of Zacharias and Elizabeth came to see 
them and to rejoice with them over the boy whom God 
had given them. 

"He must be named Zacharias after his father," 
said the visitors. 

"Not so," answered the mother; "he shall be 
named John." 

"Why should you give him that name?" they said. 
"None of your famil}- has ever been called John." 

But Elizabeth insisted that her boy should bear 
the name John. 

You remember that Zacharias had been stricken 
dumb at the time when the angel spoke to him in the 
Temple. In all the months since he had not spoken a 
word. Nor could he hear what was said; for now they 
made signs, to ask him what should be the child's name. 
They brought him a writing table, and on it he wrote, 
"His name is John." So that was the name of this 
child of promise, just as the angel Gabriel had said. 

You may ask. what was a writing table? In those 
times paper was very scarce and high in its cost. It 
was used only for writing down matters that were im- 
portant. For common uses, each family had a writing 
50 



Wf)t pop OTfjo Jgeber XKa-Steb OTJtne 



table, which was a board over which was spread a thin 
layer of wax. On this wax they marked what they 
wished to write, with a sharp-pointed pen of iron or 
steel. This kind of a pen was called a st3 T lus. The 
other end of the pen was flat, like an ivory paper- 
cutter. After writing, they could smooth it all out 
again; and the wax was then ready to be used once 
more. 

Just as soon as Zacharias had written the words 
"His name is John," the power to hear and to speak 
came back to him. He began to praise God in a loud 
voice, and gave forth a song of rejoicing. This song 
was afterward written, and may be read in the gospel 
by St. Luke, near the end of 
the first chapter. 

In this song, Zacharias 
gave thanks to God for having 
blessed his people and kept 
the promises that had been 
made in God's name by all 
the i >rophets of old time. The 

prophets, as you may know, ^ 

were the good men who lis- writing tablets 

tened to God's words and then gave them to the people, 
speaking with God's power; and sometimes telling, long 
before the time, of great events that were to take place. 
Tli<y r were men like Moses, who saw God face to face, 
and Samuel the wise ruler, and Elijah the prophet of 
fire, and Isaiah, who declared Christ's coming long before 
his day. In the Old Testament times there was always 
a prophel to tell the people the will of God. But since 
the Old Testament had been finished, almost five hundred 
years before this time, no prophet had stood up in Israel 
with the word of the Lord. 

Zacharias knew that this newly-born child should 

51 




®f)e Jiop OTfjo J?eber XKasitcb Mine 

grow up to give God's message to the people. He said 
in his song: 

"And you, O child, shall be called the prophet of God; 
For you shall go before the Lord Christ, to make 1 ready a way for 

him; 
You shall give to his people the good news of a Saviour, 
And the forgiveness of their sins 
Because of the tender mercy of God." 

In the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth the baby 
John grew up a strong, noble boy. Very early they 





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John the Baptist in the desert 

told him of the angel's visit, and of the command that 
throughout his life he was not to taste wine nor any 
strong drink. He was under a vow or pledge of special 
service for God; and one sign of his pledge was to be 
his not tasting wine nor even eating grapes. Another 
sign was in leaving his hair to grow long and never 
cutting it. Everyone who saw him would know by 
these signs thai he was pledged to a life of peculiar 
service to God. 
52 



3Tf)e pop WS&fya Jgeber Gtoteb OTiine 

When John became a young man he went away 
from his home and lived in the desert, alone with his 
own thoughts and with God. Very likely, his father 
and mother died before he went to live alone, for at 
the time of his birth they were old people and could 
not live man}' years. 

John lived upon the plainest of food, the locusts 
that could be gathered in the field, and were boiled, 
to be eaten by the poorest people. He ate also the 
hone}' made by the wild bees and stored by them in 
hollow trees and holes in the rocks. All those years 
of his young manhood, John was thinking upon the 
work to which God had called him, talking with God 
and learning God's will; so that when the time came, 
he could give God's message to the people. 




Plowing in Bible time 



53 




They Bought out (he inn at Bethlehem but Joseph found within its walls no 
place where his wife could rest after her long and wearisome ride. 



54 



Cije Cirifo=lUng in %i& Crable 

CHAPTER 7 

FOR A FEW months after their marriage, Joseph 
and Mary lived in their little house at Nazareth. 
Joseph worked at his trade as a carpenter, while 
Mary cared for the home and carried the water for the 
needs of the house from the well in the middle of the 
village, walking with her jar full of water on her head. 

One da}- Joseph came home and told his wife that 
he had been called to go on a journey to Bethlehem, 
which was the town from which their family had come. 
Both Joseph and Mary, as we have seen, had sprung 
from the line of the great King David, who had been 
born in Bethlehem more than a thousand years before. 
Every one who belonged to the line of David, wherever 
he might be living, looked upon Bethlehem as the home- 
town of his family. 

The Emperor Augustus at Rome, who ruled over 
all the lands and was above Herod, the king of Judea, 
had given orders that a list should be made of all the 
Families in his wide empire. He wished to lay a tax 
upon every family; that is, to call upon every family 
to pay money for the support of his officers, his army, 
his court; and in order to fix this tax, he must have 
wi-itten down the names of all the people. 

In our land such a list is made every ten years, 
and is called a census. With us, men are chosen in 
every city and town to go to the people where they live 
and make the list of their names. From all the states 
throughout the land, these lists are sent to one office, 
and there the names are arranged in order. 

55 



Cfje Cfjilb=&tng in JM* Crable 



But the Romans who were ruling the world at 
that time chose a plan for making this great list which 
would give themselves the least trouble, even though 
it gave to the people under them much more trouble, 
and compelled them to make long journeys. Instead 
of appointing in each place an officer to take the names 
of the people at the places where they were living, they 




Church of the Nativity, Lethlchem, said to enclose the birthplace 
of the Saviour 

made a law that ever}' family must go to the city or 
town from which they or their fathers had come, and 
there give their names to the officers who were making 
the roll of the people. Those who were living in Jeru- 
salem, and had come from Shechem or Joppa or Caesarea, 
must journey to one of these places and there make 
their report; those who were living in Nazareth and 
had come, or their parents before them had come, from 
56 




The shepherds came to the stable, opened the door and found just what the 
angel said they would see, a tiny babe lying in the manger. 



QTfje Cf)ilb=iUng in flM* Crabie 



any other place, must go to their home-town, however 
far it might be, and in that place be enrolled or written 
upon the list of names. 

There is no reason to suppose that Mary, although 
herself sprung from the family of David, was compelled 
to make this journey to Bethlehem with her husband. 
The Roman laws took very little notice of women, 
unless they were rich women who could be taxed. 
Joseph could go alone to Bethlehem, and there have 
both their names written upon the list. But at once 
a thought came to Mary, and she said to her husband: 

"You shall not make the journey to Bethlehem 
alone. I will go with you." 

We are not told why the young wife was resolved 
to go with her husband on the long journey, but the 
reason may have been this: Mary knew that she was 
to have a son, and the time for his coming was now 
near at hand. She knew, too, that her child should be 
the Son of David and the King of Israel, that he was 
to sit on David's throne. She wished him to be born, 
not in the village of Nazareth in Galilee, but in David's 
own town of Bethlehem. He was to spring from the 
royal line, and she was willing to endure a hard, trying 
journey, and even to suffer, that her son might come 
from the royal city where David lived. Mary had 
read the books of the Old Testament, and she knew 
that in those books it had been written by the prophets, 
to whom God had spoken, that this king, whom they 
called Messiah and Christ, should be born in Bethlehem. 
These were the reasons that made Mary decide so quickly 
to go with her husband on his journey to Bethlehem, 
the city of their fathers. 

So Joseph locked up his carpenter's shop and set 
his wife upon an ass, and with a staff walked beside her, 
over the mountain and down the valley to the river 

57 



ftfje Cfjtlbixtns tn 1&\% Crable 



Jordan, and thence following the river, over the Roman 
road, the same long road that Alary had taken in the 
caravan or company of pilgrims some months before. 
Joseph had been over that road man}- times, going up 
every year to the feasts at Jerusalem, so that he knew 
all the places which they passed, and could tell Mary 
stories of their people and the great events which had 
taken place on the mountains or in the cities as they 
came into view in their journey. 

They stopped at Jericho, near the head of the Dead 
Sea, and there turned westward, climbing the moun- 
tains over the robber-haunted road, and reaching Jeru- 
salem. Perhaps they rested a day or two in this city 
and then went over to the mount of Olives, past the 
village of Bethany; and six miles south of Jerusalem 
they entered the gate of Bethlehem. 

They had no friends with whom they could stay 
in Bethlehem, and so they sought out the inn, or the 
khan, as it was called. This was a large building with 
rooms around an open court. In this court the animals 
and the baggage were placed, and the guests of the inn 
were in the rooms around it. But Joseph and Mary 
were not the only people who had come to Bethlehem 
to have their names enrolled or written upon the lists 
for the taxing. Others had reached the inn or khan 
before them. When they came the courtyard was filled 
with asses and camels and chariots and baggage, and 
all the rooms around the court were crowded with 
visitors. Joseph found within the walls of the khan 
no place where his wife could rest after her long and 
wearisome ride. 

Bui at last Joseph learned of a place where they 
illicit slay through the night and for a few days. It 
was only a cave, hollowed out in the hillside, used as a 
stable for cattle; but miserable as it was, Mary was 
58 



atfje Cfnfo=Htng tn W% Crable 



glad to lie down upon the straw and rest. And in that 
cave-stable Mary's child was born. She wrapped her 
little baby in such clothes as she could find at hand, 
and laid him for his first sleep in the manger where the 
oxen had fed. This was the lowly cradle of the Son of 
David, the King 
who was to rule 
over all the earth ! 
King Herod in his 
palace did not 
know, and the 
Emperor Augus- 
tus at Rome did 
not dream, that 
in the humble 
stable at Bethle- 
hem was lying a 
Prince who should 
reign over a realm 
vastly greater 
than Judea or the 
Roman Empire; 
that all the world 
should date their 
years from the 
year when that 
baby was born; 
and that his name 
would be praised 
forgotten. 

But although neither King Herod, nor the Emperor 
Augustus, nor the high-priest and rulers in Jerusalem 
were I here to welcome their new-born King, there were 
some visitors at his manger-cradle. In the open fields 
around Bethlehem were shepherds, watching at night 

59 




Main street in Bethlehem 



long after their names had been 



Z\)t Cf)tlb=&ing in JN Crable 



over their flocks of shoo]), just as, a thousand years 
before in the same fields, the young shepherd David 
had cared for his sheep, guarding them from wild beasts 
of the wilderness and from robbers. 

Suddenly a great, dazzling light flashed upon these 
shepherds, and they saw, as Zacharias had seen by the 
altar, and as Alary had seen in Nazareth, a glorious 
angel standing before them. The shepherds were filled 
with fear and fell upon their faces on the ground, not 
daring to look up at the shining form. But the angel 
spoke to them kindly and graciously, saying: 

"Do not be afraid, for I come with good news, 
which will make you glad; news for all God's people. 
On this very night is born in yonder city of David, 
one who shall be the Saviour, even Christ your Lord 
and King. Would you wash to go and see this child? 
I will tell you how you can find him. Look for a newiy- 
born baby wrapped in such clothes as babies wear, and 
lying, not in a cradle in a house, but in the manger of 
a stable, where the oxen and the asses are kept. There 
you will find the child who is to be the King of all the 
earth!" 

While shepherds were listening to the words of 
this angel, they saw that the entire midnight sky over 
them was filled with a multitude of heavenly beings. 
The shepherds heard them sing: 

"Glory to God in the highest, 
And (arth peace among men in whom God is well pleased." 

Then the vision faded away, the angelic host passed 
out of sight, and in the dark sky only the stars were 
shining above them. Then the shepherds said to each 
other : 

"Let us leave our sheep here for a little while, and 
go to the village and see this wonderful thing that has 
60 



TOje Ci)tib=iUng in ?fe\& Crabie 



come to pass. How good it is that the Lord has given 
this word to us, that we may be the first to look upon 
our King!" 

It did not take the shepherds a long time to find 
the right stable and the manger, for Bethlehem was 
then only a small village. They came, opened the door, 
and found just what the angel had said they would 
see, a tiny baby lying in the manger, his mother hover- 
ing near, and Joseph watching over them both in 
tenderness. 

They saw the royal little one, and bowed low around 
his manger cradle, then went again to their flocks in 
the field, praising God for his goodness in sending the 
long-promised King. The people to whom the shep- 
herds told this story, wondered at it, hardly knowing 
whether to believe it or not; for this was not the way 
in which they looked for the King of Israel to come. 
They were expecting a prince to be born in a palace, 
not a working- woman's child in a dark cave where 
cattle were kept. 

But Alary, happy with her little one, clasped him 
to her heart and said nothing to anyone of the angel 
iliat had come to her in Nazareth, and of the promises 
•iiven her about this child. When the day came to 
name the child, she simply said, "His name shall be 
Jesus," but she told no one why the name was given. 
It was a common name among the Jews, so no one 
was surprised at the name. But no word could tell 
better than his name "Jesus" what this child should 
become, for the word Jesus means "Saviour." 



Gi 




Simeon came forward and look the infant Jesus into his arms, and lifting up his 
eyes to heaven gave thanks that he had seen the Saviour. 



'62 



Wot pabp prougfjt to tfje temple 

CHAPTER 8 

ALTHOUGH JESUS was born in a stable and slept 
ZA in a manger, he did not stay in that place long. 
After a few days Joseph was able to find a more 
comfortable home, where the young mother and her 
baby were taken. The Jews were very kind to strangers 
of their own people, and welcomed them to their houses 
when passing through their towns. 

Joseph and his family were in Bethlehem for some 
weeks, perhaps for some months. It may have been 
their purpose to make Bethlehem their home, and to 
bring up this child, the Son of David, in David's own 
city, where he could have a better training for his com- 
ing life, whatever that life might be, than in the country 
village of Nazareth. 

On the day when Jesus was forty days old, he was 
brought with his mother to Jerusalem, which was only 
six miles from Bethlehem. There he was taken to the 
Temple for a service which showed that he was given to 
God and to be brought up as God's child. It was the 
rule of the Jews that after the first child had come to a 
family, an offering should be made on the altar in the 
Temple for him and prayers should be said. A family 
that was rich would offer for their first child a sheep, 
which was killed and burned on the altar as a gift to 
God in place of the child. If the family was poor, or of 
the working class of people, the parents offered a pair 
of doves or pigeons. Joseph and Mary brought a pair 
of doves, and stood by while these were burned on the 
altar, .Mary holding her baby in her arms. 

03 



Cfje Paijp prougfjt to tfje temple 



At that moment there was in the Temple an old 
man named Simeon. He was a good man and very 
earnest in his prayers to God that he might live to see 

the Messiah-King of 
Israel, the Christ of God, 
who had been promised 
through the prophets of 
old. And God had said 
to Simeon that he should 
not die until he had seen 
Christ. On that morn- 
ing a voice had seemed 
to say to him, "Go to 
the Temple . " He obeyed 
it, not knowing why he 
had been sent to that 
place on that day. 

As Joseph and Mary 
brought the baby Jesus 
into the Temple, the voice 
of the Lord spoke again to 
Simeon, saying: 

"This child is Da- 
vid's Son, the King of 
Israel." 

The old man came forward, held out his arms, and 
took the child into them, folded him to his bosom, and 
lifting up his eyes to heaven, said in Hebrew verse: 

"Now, Lord, thou mayest let thy servant go 
According to thy word, in peace, 
tor these eyes of mine have seen thy Saviour 
Whom thou hast sent to all the people. 
A lighl to shine upon the nations, 
And the glory of thine own people Israel." 




Mary and the doves 



Joseph and Mary were filled with wonder at the 



c.i 



tKJje Jlabp JJrougtjt to tfje ^Temple 

act and words of the old man, whom they had never 
seen before and did not know. But as he placed the 
child in their arms again, he prayed for God's blessing 
upon both Joseph and Mary. 

"Listen," he said, "this child will become a cause 
for many to fall and to rise again in Israel. He shall be 
God's sign of mercy, but many shall speak against him. 
Also, sorrow like a sword shall pierce through your soul, 
mother; and the thoughts out of many hearts shall be 
made known." 

Those words seemed very strange at the time; but 
long afterward, when Jesus had grown to be a man, 
Mary found how true they were, as she saw enemies 
gathered against her son, and at last looked at him 
dying upon the cross. Then, indeed, a sword went 
through Mary's soul. 

Just at that moment a woman came up to the little 
group. She was very old, more than ninety years of 
age; and being a widow and a devout worshipper of 
God she stayed nearly all her days in the Temple pray- 
ing. God had spoken to her also with the promise of a 
coming Christ, the Saviour and King. She too saw in 
this little baby the promised Messiah, and in a loud 
voice gave thanks and praise to God. All who heard 
her wondered at her words, and wondered all the more 
as they looked on this plainly-clad father and mother 
with their baby, all evidently from the country, and 
the speech of Joseph and Mary showing they had come 
from Galilee in the far north. 

Thus even while Jesus was a very young baby, only 
forty days old, here in Jerusalem a few people had looked 
upon him and spoken of him as the coming King of Israel. 

Joseph and Mary carried the child back to their new 

home in Bethlehem ; and Mary had more thoughts to hide 

within her silent heart long after that day in the Temple. 

6 G5 



&f)e jfollotoers? of the ibtar 

CHAPTER 9 

WHILE JOSEPH and Mary with the child Jesus 
were still staying in Bethlehem, the city of 
Jerusalem was stirred b} r the coming of some 
men from a land far away, with a strange question. 
These men were not Jews, but were Gentiles, which was 
the name that the Jews gave to all people except them- 
selves. All Romans and Greeks and Egyptians and all 
others who were not of their own race, the Jews called 
by the name " Gentiles." These Gentile strangers who 
came to Jerusalem were asking of everybody whom they 
met this question: 

"Can you tell us where is to be found the little child 
who is born to be the King of the Jews? We have 
seen his star in the east, and we have come to do him 
honor?" 

Who were these men, and what was the star that 
they had seen? 

We are not certain as to their land, but it is gen- 
erally thought to have been the country now called 
Persia, then known as Parthia, a land about a thousand 
miles to the east of Judea. Although some Jews lived 
in that land — for Jews were to be found then as now in 
all lands, especially in large cities — the people of Parthia 
were not Jews, but, as the Jews called them, Gentiles. 
Although not of the Jewish race, these people were like 
the Jews in one respect — they never bowed down to 
worship images which men had made. They worshipped 
the One God of all the earth; and they prayed with their 
faces toward the sun. They said that they did not 
66 



tEfje Jf ollotoer* of tfje g>tar 



worship the sun, but the One God who was like the sun, 
the light of the world. 

Among these Parthian people were many men who 
at night studied the stars in the sky. They did not have 
telescopes, as those who look at the stars now have, to 
bring the heavenly bodies, the moon, the planets, and 
the stars nearer to them; they could only use their own 
eyes, but by long study they had learned much about 




The Wise Men on their journey 

the stars, could tell of their movements and where in 
the sky to find each one of them. The men who gave 
their lives to this study of the stars were called Magi, 
a word meaning "Wise Men"; and these strangers who 
were seeking the child-king in Jerusalem are sometimes 
spoken of as "the Wise Men," sometimes as "the Magi." 
The people of that time believed that when great 
kings were born, or before they died, strange stars sud- 
denly appeared in the heavens, shone for a time and then 

67 



&f)e Jfollotoersi of tfje g>tat 



as suddenly passed out of sight, A year or perhaps two 
years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, such a star, 
very bright, that had never before been seen, began to 
shine. In some way it came to the minds of these men 
that this star pointed to the coming of a great king who 
was to rule over all the lands, and who was to be found 
in the land of Judea. 

These Wise Men at once made up their minds to go 
to the land of Judea and see this child-king. It was a 
long and hard journey of more than a thousand miles. 
They must pass from the high plains of Parthia down to 
the lowlands of Babylonia, must find some way to cross 
two great rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. Then 
they would come to a vast trackless desert, where nothing 
grew and there was no water. If they went around this 
desert they must follow up the Euphrates River far to 
the north, and then traveling southward under the 
shadow of lofty mountains, they would come at last to 
Judea, and to Jerusalem, its largest city. Through all 
that long and trying journey, which would last a year, 
traveling most of the way on camels, they saw the won- 
derful star in the sky seeming to lead the way. 

From the story as told in the Gospel by St. Matthew 
it appears that when these men came to Jerusalem the 
star was no longer shining. However, the loss of the 
star would not matter so much, now that they were in 
the King's own land, for they supposed that everybody 
in that country, and cspecialty in the city of Jerusalem, 
would know that their Prince was born. But to their 
surprise, nobody seemed to have heard about the newly- 
born King. They did not meet the shepherds of Beth- 
lehem, who had seen the angel on the night of Jesus' 
birth, nor did they hear of old Simeon and Anna who a 
month or more before had seen the Christ-child. Very, 
very few were those who knew that the King had come, 



®fje Jfollotoerg of tfje ^>tar 



and none of these few people did these strangers chance 
to meet. 

They thought that at one place they could surely 
learn where to look for this young Prince. That was the 
king's palace in Jerusalem. Herod was still living, 
although old and very feeble, yet as fierce and cruel as 
ever. Perhaps they thought that this Prince for whom 
they were looking might be a son or a grandson of the 
king. Herod did not live in Jerusalem, for he did not 
like its people and he knew how greatly its people hated 
him; but he had a palace in the city and he came to it 
often for short visits. He may have been in Jerusalem 
when the Wise Men came; or they may have sought 
Herod down at Jericho, twenty miles away, where 
most of the time he lived. 

As soon as the old king heard the question of these 
strangers, and learned that they had been led by a star 
to his land, he was filled with alarm. A child born to be 
king of the Jews — if there was such a child, what would 
become of Herod's own throne and crown? If he could 
find where this child was, he would send his soldiers to 
the place and soon kill him, as he had killed many others 
whom he suspected of seeking to take away his kingdom. 
But Herod hid his cruel purpose, and spoke kindly to 
these s1 rangers about their errand. He asked them when 
the star appeared, how it looked, and how they knew that 
it showed that a king had been born. 

Then Herod sent for the wisest men in his land, the 
teachers of the law who lived in Jerusalem. He knew 
that all the people were looking for the coming of their 
Messiah-king, whom they also called the Christ. 

"Can you tell me," asked Herod, "in what place 
this great King, the Messiah or Christ, is to be born?" 

The scholars were ready with their answer. They 
said: 



©be Jf ollotoerg of tfje £>tar 



"In Bethlehem of Judea, the city of David, this 
King who springs from David's line shall be born. This 
is what the old prophets have said." 

And the}- read to him one of the promises of the 
prophets that the King should come out of Bethlehem. 

Then Herod sent again for the Wise Men, and asked 
them to give him the exact time when they first saw the 
star. When he had learned the time, he thought at 
once that this long-looked-for lung must have been born 
in Bethlehem less than two years before. 

"Go to Bethlehem," said Herod to the Wise Men, 
"and search through the town until you find this child; 
and when you have found him, come and tell me, for I 
wish to do honor to this King." 

That was what Herod said; but what he meant to 
do was a very different thing, as we shall see. 

The Wise Men at once started for Bethlehem, which 
was only six miles from Jerusalem. They went over 
one of the mountains, and then one said to another: 

"Look, there is the star once more! See it in the 
sky just before us!" 

The star stood over the road leading to Bethlehem, 
and again they followed it rejoicing. It led them straight 
to the city, and then to a house, over which it seemed to 
pause. They knocked at the door, and when it was 
opened they went into a room, where they found a baby 
lying in its young mother's arms. 

These Wise Men knew at once that here was the 
King for whom they had sought so long and traveled so 
far. They bowed before him to the ground to show the 
high honor in which they held him. Then the}' opened 
the treasures which they had brought from their own 
land, and gave to him rich gifts, such as were presented 
to kings. They gave him gold, and frankincense and 
myrrh, the fragrant gums that were used in offerings and 
70 



Cfje Jf ollotoer* of tfje g>tar 



were very costly. Thus, while in his own land only a 
few people showed their gladness at the coming of their 
king, the strangers from a distant country came to pay 
him honor. We would have thought that some of the 
learned Jews, who could tell King Herod where the King 
was born, might have come with the Wise Men to see 
him. But these great scholars really cared very little 
about Jesus. They stayed at home and soon forgot the 
men of the east, their journey, and their question. 




The well of the Wise Men, near Bethlehem 



71 




Joseph and Mary taking the child Jesus with them set out on tiuir 
journey to the land of Judea 



72 



^>afe in Cgppt 

CHAPTER 10 

ON THE night after their visit to Mary and her 
child, the Wise Men had a dream. In their 
dream they heard the voice of God saying to them : 

"Do not go to meet King Herod again. He is no 
friend to this princely child. Return to your own land 
by some other way, and do not let Herod know it." 

The Wise Men obeyed the voice of the Lord. They 
left Bethlehem very quietly, telling no one the road that 
they were taking; and without going through Herod's 
city, went back to their own land, far-distant Parthia. 

As soon as the Wise Men had left, on that night 
Joseph also had a dream. He saw an angel by his bed, 
who said to Joseph: 

"Rise up at once; take the little child and his 
mother, and go as quickly as you can down to the land 
of Egypt, stay in that country until I tell you to leave 
it, for very soon King Herod will try to kill this child." 

Without waiting a moment, Joseph awaked Mary 
from her sleep, and in the night they left the house, 
taking the sleeping baby with them. They passed 
silently through the dark streets of Bethlehem and found 
the road that would lead them to Egypt. At times 
Mary rode upon an ass, holding her precious child; at 
others she walked while Joseph guided the animal which 
carried their possessions. It was a journey of more than 
a hundred miles to Egypt, but they went in safety, un- 
known to King Herod. 

In Egypt they could dwell safely, for that land 
was not a part of Herod's kingdom. Many Jews were 

73 



»afe in €gppt 



dwelling there, and among them Joseph could live by 
his trade, for he was a skilful worker in wood. How long 
they staj-ed in Egypt we do not know. It may have been 
either a few T months or a few years. 

Herod waited for some time to see the Wise Men 
again, and to find where the child-king was living. But 




Joseph and Mary with Jesus in Egypt 

as the days passed and he heard nothing from them, and 
finally learned that they had left for their home-land 
without obeying his command to come and see him, he 
was very angry. But he was resolved to kill this child, 
who if he should live might take the kingdom from him 
or from his family. 

Herod planned and carried out a fearfully wicked 
74 



&>att in €gppt 

deed, but not more wicked than many deeds that he had 
already done. He sent a troop of his soldiers to Bethle- 
hem, with orders to go into every house in the village, 
to find every child that was two years old or under that 
age, and to kill them all. This terrible thing the soldiers 
did, and a great cry went up to heaven from the mothers 
and fathers whose little ones had been slain by the wicked 
king's command. 

But Herod's slaughter of the little children was all 
in vain, as must be every attempt to fight against God. 
Herod thought that surely this royal child must be 
among those little dead bodies in Bethlehem, and that 
his throne was safe. But by that time the little Jesus 
was in Egypt, sleeping under one of its palm trees beside 
the river Nile, or looking with wide-open baby eyes upon 
the pyramids and the Sphinx, the wonderful works of 
ancient time, carved in stone. 

Herod did not live long after this. He died full of 
years, full of wickedness, and suffering great pain. Then 
Joseph in Egypt dreamed again. The angel whom he had 
seen so many times before came once more and said to him : 

" Joseph, you may now take the young child and 
1 1 is mother and go back to the land of the Jews, for those 
who sought to kill the child are dead and can do him 
no harm." 

Then Joseph as before fastened a saddle on the ass 
and placed their possessions upon its back. The little 
family then set out upon its journey back to the land of 
Judea. The purpose of Joseph and Mary was to go back 
to Bethlehem, David's city, and there bring up this child 
whom they expected one day to sit on David's throne 
as King of Israel. But on the way they met other 
travelers and asked them: 

"Who is now the King in Judea, since Herod is 
dead?" They said to Joseph: 

75 



^>afe in <£gj>pt 



"The king over Jerusalem and Judea is now Arche- 
laus, the son of the old King Herod, and he is as wicked 
and as cruel as his father was before him." 

This news made Joseph and Mary afraid to go to 
Bethlehem. They thought, "Perhaps King Archelaus 
may have heard of the child Jesus, and is watching for 
the chance to kill him." 

They made up their mind not to go near Bethlehem 
or Jerusalem, but keeping away from the land ruled by 
Archelaus, to return to Nazareth, where both had lived 
before their marriage. So it came to pass that Jesus 
who was born in Bethlehem of Judea was brought up in 
Nazareth of Galilee. 




Bronze coin of Herod Agrippa I 




Large bronze coin of Agrippa II 



76 



9 Cfjtlb'si %iit in j£a?aretf) 

CHAPTER 11 

THE LITTLE Jesus must have been between two 
and five years old when he was brought to Nazareth, 
just coming out of babyhood and growing into a 
little boy; and Nazareth was his home for at least 
twenty-five years, all through his childhood, his boyhood 
and his 3 r oung manhood. 

Jesus was not the only child living in that little 
white house of one story and one room on the side of the 
hill Soon another baby boy came, who was named 
James, who grew up to become a great man, and many 
years after wrote one of the books in the Bible, the 
Epistle of James. Then, one after another, came three 
more boys, Joseph and Simon and Judas. When we 
read that name "Judas" we are apt to think of the wicked 
Judas, who sold the Lord Jesus for a few pieces of silver. 
But that was a different Judas. This Judas, like his 
brother James, long afterward wrote another book in the 
New Testament, the Epistle of Jude. Somewhere in the 
list of children were two girls — there may have been more 
than two, but the number and names of the girls have 
not been kept 

After a few years that little house must often have 
been crowded, with children coming one after another, 
and always a baby to be cared for. And much of the 
time it was the shop where father Joseph did his work as a 
carpenter. The floor of brick or of clay was often littered 
with shavings and the workman's tools were on the table. 

The house had very little furniture; no chairs, no 
bedstead with a mattress upon it, no stove and no pictures 

77 




The child Jesus loved outdoor life, he knew the flowers that grew in the 
and the birds flying in the air. 



& Cfntb'si %itt in J?a?aretj) 



upon the walls. In one corner a little fire was lighted for 
cooking the meals, and the smoke went up through a 
hole in the roof, unless the wind blew it back into the 
room. They never made a fire to keep the house warm 
in winter, but when it was cold just waited for the sun to 
come out. Sometimes a snowstorm came, but the snow 
seldom stayed more than two or three days. The 




Jesus as a boy at the house of his father and mother 

children of Joseph never took a sleigh-ride and never 
coasted on sleds down the steep hills. 

If there was a table for their meals, it was very low, 
less than two feet high; and they sat around it on little 
cushions, dipping their hands or pieces of bread into one 
common dish for food. Sometimes the table was just a 
round measure turned upside down; and sometimes the 
meal was served on the floor, as we serve meals on the 
grass at a picnic. 

79 



a Cfjilb'a Htfe in Jga^aretf) 



When night came, they unrolled some mats, which 
through the day were rolled up and stood against the 
wall, spread them on the floor and lay down upon them 
to sleep, throwing over themselves the long mantle 
which had been their outside garment through the day. 
"When the door was shut, the house was dark, for its 
only window was a little hole in the wall; and they 




Women grinding grain in Bible times 

lighted it by an oil lamp, which stood either on a tall 
stand or on a little shelf. 

But the house was used little in the daytime, for 
everybody lived out of doors, in the open court in front, 
in the streets and on the hills around. On pleasant days 
Joseph took his tools in the court and worked in wood. 
We are apt to think of Joseph as building houses, as in 
our time that is the chief work of a carpenter. But the 
houses were made of clay or rough stone, and the carpen- 
80 



& Cfjtib's Hilt in J^a^aretfj 



ter did very little work upon them. His chief business 
was in making wooden plows, yokes for the oxen, the 
little tables, and the peck or bushel measure, which was 
to be found in every house, and was also used in place of 
a table. 

One very useful article was either in the house or in 
the court — the hand mill for grinding grain, made of two 
round flat stones. Our flour comes to us from great 
factories, but in that land each family had its own little 
mill. They poured the grain into a hole in the upper 
millstone, and then turned the stone round and round 
by a handle until the grain was ground into flour. This 
was hard work, but it was always done by the women. 
Often two women helped each other to turn the handle 
of the upper millstone. Mary's arms often ached in 
making the flour needed for her large family. When her 
daughters grew strong, they helped her in this work. 

When Jesus became a boy six years old, he was sent 
to school with the other boys. There were no schools 
for girls among the Jews, so far as we know. The school 
was held in the village church, which they called the 
synagogue. The teacher was always a man, and he was 
generally the janitor of the church, who kept the building 
in order. 

The Jews had a pretty name for the village school. 
They called it "The Vineyard," as though the children 
were bunches of little grapes, growing up to ripen in the 
sun. In this vineyard-school there was only one book 
for study. That was the Bible. The Jews had only the 
Old Testament, for the New Testament had not yet 
been written. Each of the larger books was in a separate 
volume in the form of a long roll of parchment; that is, 
a sheet made of sheepskin which had been made smooth, 
on which the words were written. Several of the smaller 
books were written on one roll. In the school there was 
o 81 



3 Cfjilb'S life in i?a?aretf) 



only one copy of the Bible for all the scholars, but each 
boy had a board and a piece of chalk, with which he wrote 
sentences from the Bible and then learned them by 
heart. When his text had been learned, each pupil 
cleaned off his board like a slate and wrote on it a new 
lesson. All the teaching in a Jewish school was in the 
Old Testament. 

The copy of the Bible in the school was generally 
one that had been used in the church until it had grown 

old and worn out. When 
they obtained a new set of 
the books for the service 
in the church, they gave 
the old copies to the school. 
You can see in that 
same land now a school 
of children just like those 
in the time when Jesus was 
a boy. The children sit on 
the floor in a circle, the 
teacher being one of the 
ring. When they repeat 
their verses in learning 
them, all are talking aloud 
at the same time, so that 
the school is very noisy. 
We could not study in such a din, but they do not seem 
to mind it. 

School was not very hard in that country. Our 
children have one holiday in each week, free from school; 
but in the school where Jesus was taught, they had two 
holidays in every week, besides the sabbath. In addition 
to these holidays there was a long recess of three hours in 
the middle of each day, and no school at all if the day was 
very hot. 
82 




Roll of book 



& Cfjtlb^ Hife in iSa^aretf) 



When Jesus was a small boy he was taken by father 
Joseph to the church, which you remember they called 
the synagogue. The men and boys sat on the floor upon 
rugs or mats, while the women and girls were in a gallery, 
looking down upon them. All the men and boys wore 
their hats in the church. Their hats were turbans of 
cloth wrapped around their heads. But each one as he 
entered the door slipped off his shoes or slippers, and was 
barefooted in the church at the hour of worship. If 
at the hour of worship you go to a Mohammedan church 
in that country — which they call a mosque — you will 
see all the shoes standing outside the door. 

In the church they had no minister to lead the 
service and to preach a sermon. The men took turns 
in charge of the worship. One read from one part of the 
Old Testament, another from another part. If they 
found a boy who was a good reader he was often called 
upon to read the Bible in the church service. They had 
1 trayers, always read from a book; they sang together 
from the Psalms; and whoever wished to speak could 
do so. 

But we are not to think of the child Jesus as always 
at school or at church. He was a strong, hearty, healthy 
boy. He loved outdoor life, he knew the flowers that 
grew in the fields and the birds flying in the air. He 
played with other boys and knew all their games. Two 
of these games he once happened to mention long after, 
while he was teaching. One game was the wedding, 
when they sang and danced; the other was the funeral, 
when they cried with loud voices, making a mournful 
wail. We know, too, that in those times the boys played 
ball and marbles, and a game somewhat like ten-pins. 

Jesus was not a lonely boy, living apart. He was 
always fond of having others around him. When he was 
a man, traveling and teaching over all the land, he had 

83 



3 Ojtlb'S Me in 3?a*aretf) 



his twelve chosen friends who were always with him, 
and we may be sure that as a boy he liked to be with other 
boys, and in turn was liked by the boys of his village. 

We may be sure, too, that he grew up a good boy; 
one who always tried to do right, at home, at school, or in 
play. At home he would help Joseph in his shop and his 
mother in her work or in caring for the smaller children; 
in school we know that he learned his verses in the Bible, 
because in after years he could always call them to his 
mind and speak them; and in play he was always fair 
and good-hearted and willing. We are told that he 
grow in knowledge and in the favor of God and of all people. 
In other words, he was a boy that everybody liked. 




The citadel of ancient Bethshean, in the Jordan valley, twelve miles 
south of sea of Galilee 



SI 



^fje pop £ost anb Jfounb 

CHAPTER 12 

JESUS STAYED at the school in the viUage church 
until he was twelve years old. By that time he 
could read and write and could also repeat many 
verses. But as his reading book and spelling book and 
copy book and memory verses were all in the Bible, and 
as he heard long readings from its books at the church 
service, we may be sure that he knew quite well all the 
best things in that best of all books, the Bible. One 
proof of this is that in later years, when anyone tried to 
puzzle him with a hard question, he often answered 
promptly with a sentence from the Bible. 

A Jewish boy generally left school at the age of 
twelve, unless he wished to become a rabbi, which was 
the name among the Jews for a teacher of their law. If 
that was his wish or the purpose of his parents, he was 
senl up to Jerusalem to study in the college held by the 
scribes or teachers in the Temple. Saul of Tarsus, a boy 
about four years younger than Jesus, whom we know as 
Paul the Apostle, was a student in the Temple college, 
I hi i Jesus was not. While the young Saul was studying 
in Jerusalem, Jesus as a young man was working in the 
carpenter shop at Nazareth. 

When Jesus was twelve years old he was taken on 
his first journey from Nazareth up to Jerusalem to 
attend the great feast of the Passover. Three great 
feasts were held during the year. The feast of the 
Passover was in the early spring, and kept in mind the 
great day when the Israelites went out of Egypt, no 
longer slaves but free men. The feast of the Pentecost 

85 



tKfje $op lost anb Jfounb 



was held in the late spring, just fifty days after the 
Passover — the word "pentecost" meaning " fifty days" — 
and reminded the people that fifty days after their 
fathers went out of Egypt, God gave them their law 
amid lightning and thunder on Mount Sinai. The feast 
of the Tabernacles, or " feast of tents" (for that is the 
meaning of the word tabernacles), was held in the fall; 
and at this time the people built for themselves huts of 
green branches, ate in them and slept in them for a week, 
to show the outdoor life of the early days in the wilder- 
ness, while they were marching to Canaan, the Promised 
Land. These three great feasts were held in Jerusalem, 
and from every part of the land the people came up to 
the city to attend them. 

It was a great event when the boy Jesus for the first 
time went on this journey to Jerusalem. The younger 
children were left at home, under the care of some friend, 
for a boy did not begin attending these feasts until he 
was twelve years old. Of course, Joseph and Mary knew 
all about this journey, for they had made it many times. 
They went in the caravan or company from Nazareth, 
following the road that Joseph and Mary had taken on 
their way to Bethlehem, twelve years before. As they 
journeyed, Mary seated on the ass, Joseph and the boy 
Jesus walking beside her, they would talk about the 
places which they passed, and the stories of old times 
told about them. Jesus knew all those stories, for every 
Jewish boy had heard them, over and over. 

As they paused on the top of the hill beside Nazareth, 
below them was spread out the great plain of Esdraelon, 
and they would say, "That mountain by the Great Sea 
on the west is Mount Carmel, where Elijah built his 
altar and made his great offering, when in answer to his 
prayer the fire came down from heaven and burned up 
the bullock laid on the altar. Do you see that road 
86 



ZKfje pop Host anb jfomtb 



running across the plain? On that road Elijah ran in 
front of King Ahab's chariot, after the long drought, 
when the rain was coming. And then, this plain! Over 
it from Mount Tabor, there on the left, Deborah and 
Barak chased the flying Canaanites across the plain. 
Do you see that second mountain beyond Tabor? That 
is Mount Gilboa; and at its foot Gideon with his brave 




Mount Tabor and the plain of Esdraelon 

three hundred frightened at night the Midianite host 
and won a great victory." 

They went down into the Jordan valley and walked 
southward by the Roman road, following the Jordan 
River. At one place the mountains on either side came 
down close to the river, and there was barely room for 
the road between the foaming stream on one side and the 
steep rocks on the other. 

"Look," said Joseph, "this is the place where the 
waters rose up and stood in a heap when our fathers under 
Joshua were about to cross the river, thirty miles 
below. " 

87 



£fje Pop Host anb Jfounb 



Thej- crossed a brook which fell into the river; and 
Joseph said, "Do you see this brook? Up there among 
the mountains was the place where the prophet Elijah 
was fed b}- the ravens; for this is the brook Cherith." 

They came to the place just above Jericho where 
under Joshua the Israelites walked across the dry bed 
of the river, the holy ark carried by the priests in front 
and the people following in a long; procession. There 







The Temple of Herod- restored by Fergusson. The covered portico on the left is 
the royal porch extending along the southern side of the Temple area. The 
colonnade running from left to right is Solomon's porch extending across the 
eastern side of the area. The courts were much larger than as here shown. 

the river is very wide and quite shallow, so that people 
walk across, except in the early spring, when it is swollen 
by the rains and the melting snow on the high mountains 
far to the north. 

There they would point out across the river Mount 
Nebo, where Moses stood looking upon the land and then 
all alone lay down and died. They stopped for a rest at 
Jericho, where were stories to tell of the walls that fell 
down when the Israelites marched around them, and 




At last his parents found Jesus in the Temple 



center of a company of 



learned scholars; he was asking questions of them and they were" asking 
questions of him, while all around were people listening and wondering at 
this boy's deep knowledge of the truth. 



^fje 2Boj> Host anb Jfounb 



the priests blew their ram's-horn trumpets. Perhaps 
they stopped and drank at the great spring near Jericho 
where the water was made pure by Elisha the prophet. 
And after a climb up to the mountains , at the end of six 
days or a week, they came to Jerusalem, the end of their 
journe} r , and the place called by the people "the holy 
city." 

And then, there was the splendid Temple of God! 
How the boy's heart was stirred as he walked over the 
bridge leading from Mount Zion to Mount Moriah! 
They went into the great outside court, the court of the 
Gentiles, the only place in the Temple where foreigners 
were allowed to enter; and the boy Jesus was shocked 
to see that it had been turned into a market, where 
cattle and sheep and doves were sold, and where tables 
stood around for the men who changed foreign money 
into Jewish shekels. 

Over the eastern wall and the Golden Gate, they 
saw the Mount of Olives, then covered to the top with 
vineyards and olive trees and gardens. They climbed 
up a flight of steps and passed through a gate called 
"the Beautiful Gate," into a smaller court, like the 
outer court open to the sky. This was named "The 
Court of the Women" because from its lattice-covered 
gallery the women looked down on the altar and the 
services of worship. Jesus noticed that in this Court of 
the Women were many classes of young men studying, 
seated in a circle, listening to their teachers. How he 
longed to sit down among them and listen to these wise 
scholars; for though only a boy, he had thought deeply 
on many things which he had read, and many questions 
had come to his mind which he greatly desired to have 
answered. He saw the sacrifice offerings laid on the altar 
and burned, while trumpets sounded and censers of incense 
were waved and the priests chanted the psalms of David. 



{Etje Pop Hosrt anb Jfounb 



While the family were in Jerusalem they found 
friends with whom they stayed, and in their house the 
Passover feast was eaten. It was a very simple meal, 
just a roasted lamb, some vegetables and bread made 
without yeast, in thin cakes, like soda biscuit, only larger. 

They ate the meal 




lying down on 
couches around 
the table, their 
heads toward the 
table, their feet 
away from it. It 
was the custom 
or rule of the Jews, 
at this feast, to 
have the story of 
the first Passover. 
Perhaps Joseph 
said to Jesus: 

"My son, you 
know what took 
place when this 
passover was 
eaten for the first 
time. Tell us the 
story." 

Then the boy 

Jerusalem, looking toward Olivet Jegus ^^ q{ ^ 

terrible plagues that fell upon the land of Egypt; of 
the last and greatest sorrow, the death of the oldest 
son in every house; how the Israelites sprinkled their 
door-posts with the blood of the slain lamb and were 
passed over by this death-angel; how they ate the lamb 
on that night, dressed for their journey; and how they 
went out of Egypt and marched through the Red Sea. 
90 



David strei 



Wfje pop £o*t anb jfotmb 



The family were in Jerusalem for a week, and every 
day Jesus went up to the Temple to worship in its services 
and to learn what he could from its teachers. The last 
day of their visit came, and at its close the families 
going to Galilee met together for their homeward journey. 
A horn was blown and the caravan or company started 
northward. Mary missed her son, but thought that he 
was somewhere in the crowd, talking with other boys 
of his own age. But when night came, the company 
stopped to rest and Jesus did not appear. Mary was 
alarmed. They looked through all the crowd, but no 
Jesus was to be found. 

Then in great trouble, Joseph and Mary hastened 
back to Jerusalem, looking for their boy. They asked 
for him among the friends at whose house they had stayed, 
but he had not been there. They wandered up and 
down the narrow streets, but while they saw many groups 
of boys, their boy was not among them. At last, on the 
third day, they looked for him in the Temple. In one 
of its courts a crowd of people were listening to the 
teachers who seemed to be talking with someone. 
They drew near, and Mary's heart began to beat 
as she suddenly heard a boy's voice sounding from 
the middle of the throng. She knew that voice, in 
its clear, rich, honest tone! She pressed her way 
in; and there stood her boy, the center of a company 
of the learned scholars. He was asking questions 
of these men, and they in their answers were asking 
him questions in turn, while all around were people 
listening and wondering at this boy's deep knowledge of 
the truth. 

Mary hastily rushed up to Jesus, and said: 

"My son, why have you treated us so unkindly? 
Your father and I have been looking for you, in great 
trouble, for three days!" 

91 



atjje Pop Host anb Jfounb 



Jesus looked up at his mother's face, with surprise, 
and said: 

"Why should you look for me? Did you not know 
that I would be in my Father's house?" 

Evidently on the last day of their stay, he had slipped 
away for one more visit to the Temple; and once there 
his mind and heart had been so full that no thought of 
the home-going had come to him. He had just stayed 
there in the courts of the Lord's house without a thought 
of the outside world. 

Where had he slept on those two nights? Who had 
given him food during those three days? He might 
have lain down, as thousands did during the feast, under 
the olive trees on the Mount of Olives. Some stranger 
may have seen him and invited him to a meal. But it 
would not be strange if in his deep, whole-souled interest, 
he had never thought of food and had eaten nothing 
during those three days. 

But without a word he took his mother's hand and 
walked out of the Temple. He made the journey home 
to Nazareth, saying little but thinking much of all that 
he had seen and heard. One great, precious truth at 
least had come home to his heart. He felt that the Lord 
God of Israel was his own Father and he could trust 
fully the Father God. 



92 



W$t l>oung liioobtoorfcer 

CHAPTER 13 

FOR EIGHTEEN years after the visit to the Temple, 
Jesus was living in Nazareth, growing up from a 
boy to a young man. A Jewish boy generally left 
his school at about thirteen years of age, and began 
working at some trade or business. Jesus went into 
Joseph's shop and helped in the work, making plows and 
ax-handles and rakes and the plain furniture for the 
houses. Whatever Jesus did was done well, and we 
cannot doubt that in his trade he soon became a skilful 
worker. His ax-handles and plows were as good as the 
best; and if he made a bushel measure, it was a true 
one, for Jesus was a boy that could be trusted. 

As a boy, he was like other boys, playing happily in 
play-time and working heartily in work-time. Some 
boys like to be alone, reading and thinking and dreaming; 
but Jesus was not one of that kind. All through his 
life he liked to have people around him, and as a boy we 
may be sure he had many friends among other boys. 
Be was strong, in good health, could run and jump and 
climb trees. With his boy friends he wandered among 
I lie mountains and upon the great plain just over the 
hills from his town. The Sea of Galilee was only twent}^ 
miles away, and we do not doubt that Jesus with his 
friends went fishing in its blue waters and brought home 
fco his mother the fish which he had caught. 

After a time, Joseph, the husband of Mary, died, 
and Jesus was left to care for his mother and her large 
family of children. It is no light load for one just 
coming out of boyhood and just beginning to be a man, 

93 



Jesus went into Joseph's shop and helped in the work, making plows 
and ax-handles and the plain furniture for the houses. 



94 



®fje §Qtmg WHoobtoorker 



to have laid upon him the earning of enough money to 
buy food for a mother and at least six younger brothers 
and sisters; and this was the load which the young 
Jesus took up. But although Joseph who had been a 
father to him was gone, Jesus knew that his heavenly 
Father was still with 
him, and he could 
call upon him for 
help in every need. 

Jesus worked 
hard all the long- 
days, but when the 
Sabbath day came, 
which among the 
Jews was Saturday, 
his shop was shut up 
and he sat on the 
floor of the village 
church, listening to 
the reading of the Old 
Testament and join- 
ing in the songs of 
praise. He took his 
turn as the reader 
at the desk, and as 

he read the lesson in Tools of an oriental carpenter. 1,3,4. Drills. 2. 

Isaiah or Micah or £htaeL 5. mndleofadrill. 6. Nut held in the 

T hand whue the drdl revolves. 7. Saw. 8. 

Jlosea, he Saw mean- Punch. 9. Horn of oil. 10. Mallet. 11. Bag 

ings in the verses that for nai,s ' 1L Basket t0 ho,d too,s - 
others could not see, for in the long hours of the workshop 
he was thinking and praying and listening to the voice 
of God. 

While Jesus was living this quiet life in the home and 
the shop some changes were going on in the land. The 
ruler in Galilee was Herod Antipas, the son of that wicked 

95 




Efje goung OTioobtoorker 



Herod who killed all the babies in Bethlehem; and 
he was very little better than his father. In Judea, 
the part of the land around Jerusalem, Archelaus, 
another son of Herod, ruled so badly that all the people 
sent to the Emperor Tiberius at Rome asking to have 
him taken away. The Jews hoped that they might then 
have rulers of their own people; but the Emperor sent 
them a Roman governor, whom they did not like but 
dared not make angry. In many places through the 
land, especially in Galilee, where Jesus was living, some 
of the people refused to pay their taxes to the " Roman 
empire, and began fighting against the rulers. They 
could not battle with the Roman armies, and hid in the 
woods and caves and mountains, but came out in bands 
and robbed the people on the roads. All through the 
land, north and south, were fear and trouble. The 
people were not contented with their rulers, and all 
hoped that the time was near when the Kingdom of Cod 
would come and their Roman officers and tax-gatherers 
would be driven away. They looked for a kingdom like 
the one over which David reigned a thousand years 
before, a kingdom with armies and victories over its 
enemies and a palace for the king. 

But they did not know that in that little one-room 
house on the hillside of Nazareth, the King was waiting 
for his call to go forth and bring in the true Kingdom 
of God. 



96 



IKfyt Voitt hv tfje &tber 

CHAPTER 14 

WHILE JESUS was still living in Nazareth and 
working in his carpenter shop, suddenly the 
news went through aU the land that a strange 
man was preaching in the desert country of Judea, not 
far from Jerusalem; and that all the people were going 
out of the cities and villages to hear him. 

This man was John, the son of the old priest 
Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth. You remember that 
an angel came to Zacharias while he was standing by the 
altar in the Temple, and told him that he should have a 
son, and that his name should be John. John had now 
grown up and was a young man about thirty years old. 
He had lived out in the desert places away from the 
cities and their crowds, so that he could be alone and 
think and pray and listen to the voice of God. And 
God had spoken to him in the desert and he had told 
him to preach to the people and tell them how to get 
ready for the Kingdom of God, which was soon to come. 
John was preaching beside the river Jordan, at the 
foot of the mountains; and from the cities and villages 
everywhere the people went to listen to his words. John 
did not look like the men of his time. He had never 
cut his hair, and it hung upon his shoulders in a long- 
black mass. His black beard, too, was very long, for it 
had never been trimmed. His clothing was a skin torn 
from a beast or a mantle woven from the rough, shaggy 
hair of the camel, fastened by a leather belt around the 
waist. He had lived out of doors in the sun and the 
winds and the rain, so that his face and arms and legs 
. 7 97 



TOfje Uotce bp tfje &tber 



and his bare feet were all brown and hard. He ate for 
his food the locusts which he could pick up in the fields 
and the woods and the honey to be found in the hollow 
trees. When the people looked at him, they thought of 
the great prophet Elijah, who many hundred years before 
had gone up to heaven in a chariot of fire near that 
very place where John was preaching, and they said 
wonderingly to each other: 

"This must be Elijah, the fiery prophet, who has 
come back to earth." 

A prophet among the Israelites was a man who 
brought to the people the word which God had given 
him to speak. The books of the Old Testament, which 
all the people knew almost by heart, told of many 
prophets, such as Moses, who brought water for his 
people b}^ striking the rock; Samuel, whose prayers 
saved the people from their enemies; Nathan, who spoke 
bold words to David the king; and Elisha, who had 
made the bitter waters of a spring sweet, had cured the 
leper Naaman and wrought many wonderful works. 
Of all the prophets, they thought Elijah the greatest, 
and they remembered that in the last book of the Old 
Testament, the book of the prophet Malachi, it was 
written : 

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before 
the great day of the Lord shall come." 

And when the people looked at this strange man 
who was preaching by the river, they thought that the 
day of the Lord was surely coming, and that here was 
the prophet Elijah as had been promised. 

John said to the people, in his preaching, that the 
Kingdom of God was near at hand and that every man 
must be ready for it. To make themselves ready, they 
were to confess their sins, to stop doing wrong and to 
begin to do right. As a sign of their willingness to cease 

99 



GTfje "^Totce by tfje ftttoer 



from evil and to serve the Lord, they were baptized by 
John in the river Jordan. John said to them: 

"I baptize you with water, but there is one among 
you, of your own people, one whom you do not know, 
who is greater than I, so much above me that I am not 
worthy to stoop down and tie his shoestrings. He will 
come soon; and when he comes, he will not baptize with 
water as I do. He will baptize you with fire and with 
the Spirit of God." 




The river Jordan 

He spoke further about this Greater One who was 
coming so soon, and said: 

"He shall deal with the people as the farmer deals 
with his grain on the threshing floor. He will sweep the 
floor most carefully; the wheat he will put in his barn 
and the chaff he will burn up with a fire that cannot 
be put out." 

The people came to John and said to him: 

" What shall we do to make ready for the coming of 
this Great King?" 
100 



Wfje ^Totce tip tfje Etber 



John answered them: 

"Let everyone do what he can to help those who are 
in need. If any of you have two coats, give one of them 
to some poor man that has no garments; and those of 
you who have wheat and barley, give to those who are 
hungry something to eat." 

Some of the men who gathered the taxes from the 
people for the Roman rulers came to John and said: 

"What would you have us do to make ready for 
the coming of the King? Shall we tell the people that 
they are to pay no more taxes?" 

"No," answered John. "Let the people pay their 
taxes as before; but see that you do not make them pay 
more than is right, and do not rob them." 

For manj r of these tax-collectors (who were called 
publicans) took from the people more than they had a 
right to take, and used the people's money for them- 
selves. They made themselves rich by robbing the 
people. Everywhere the people hated these tax-col- 
lectors, and called them "sinners." 

The soldiers and policemen came to John and said, 
"And what shall we do?" 

John said to them: 

"Do not be harsh and rough with the people. Treat 
everyone kindly. Be contented with your pay, and do 
not make the people give you money that you have no 
right to ask." 

These were some of the many things that John said 
to the people. All his words came to this: "If you are 
doing wrong, stop it and begin to do right. Do not be 
selfish, but love your fellow men and do good to them. 
And be ready when the King comes to obey him." 

John was called "John the Baptist" because he 
baptized in the river Jordan all those who promised to 
follow his teachings. 

101 



GTfje "^Totce bp tfje &tber 



The leaders of the people in Jerusalem did not 
believe the words of John and were not baptized by him. 
They did not know exactly what to think of him, and 
they sent some priests and others to see him. These 
men came and asked him: 

"Who are you? Are }^ou the Christ, the promised 
King?" 

"No," answered John, "I am not the Christ." 

"What then?" said they. "Are you Elijah the 
prophet come to earth again, as some people say 
you are?" 

"No," answered John again, "I am not Elijah." 

"Well, then," they said, "tell us who you are, so 
that we can give an answer to the rulers who have 
sent us." 

And John said: 

"In the book of the prophet Isaiah it is written, 
'The Voice of him that cries in the desert: prepare ye 
the way of the Lord, make a straight path before him.' 
I am that voice to speak to the people and make them 
ready for the King, who is even now among you, 
although you do not know him, and who will soon make 
himself known." 



102 



W\)t Carpenter £eabes 2|t3 H>f)op 

CHAPTER 15 

AFTER SOME months the news was brought to 
Nazareth that John the Baptist had come up the 
river Jordan and was now preaching at a place 
about twelve miles south of the Sea of Galilee. The 
place where John was preaching had two names. It 
was called " Bethany beyond Jordan/' there being 
another Bethany quite near Jerusalem; and it was also 
called "Bethabara," a word which means "the place 
where one can walk across the river"; for there the river 
Jordan was so shallow that people waded across it. 
John had chosen this place because the sloping shore 
beside the river was fitted for the crowds to listen to 
his preaching, and the shallow water was near at hand 
for baptizing the people. 

Bethabara or Bethany was about twenty-five miles 
from Nazareth; and over the plain just across the hill 
was a road leading down to the river at that place, where 
people used to cross the Jordan on their way to the land 
of Dccapolis and Perea beyond. Nearly all the people 
had heard John preach, and most of them had been 
baptized by him as a sign that they promised to turn 
from evil and do good and look for the King who was 
soon to come. 

Jesus felt that the time had now come for him to 
begin the work to which God had called him. He had 
told no one of his purpose, not even his mother; but 
one day he left his carpenter shop to his younger 
brothers, who were now young men and able to care for 
their mother. He walked down the valleys, came to the 

103 



tEfje Carpenter Heabesi 1$i& £>fjop 



river Jordan, waded the stream, and at Bethabara, in 
front of a crowd of people from every part of the land, 
for the first time he saw John the Baptist. Xo doubt 
Mary had told her son all the story of the angel by the 
altar, of John's birth and of his early life; but in all the 
years Jesus and John had never met. 

Jesus listened to the words of John, and then with 
the others he came forward to be baptized. John looked 
at this strange young man who was drawing near, and 
as he looked the voice within him said: 

' ' The long-promised 
King has come! This 
Man is He!" 

John felt that here 
was one who needed no 
baptism; for he knew 
that this man had no sins 
to give up, and was al- 
ready doing God's will 
perfectly. He felt unwill- 
ing to baptize him, and 
said: 

"It is not fitting that 
I should baptize one so 
good and so great in the sight of God as you are. I need 
to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 
But Jesus answered him: 

"It is best that it should be so. Whatever is right 
for other men is right also for me. Let me do this as 
my duty to God." 

Then John yielded to the will of Jesus and baptized 
him. Just as Jesus rose out of the water a strange 
thing happened. While he was praying a light flashed 
from the sky and seemed to rest upon the head of Jesus 
like a white, shining dove coming down upon him; and 
104 




The Jordan. At the supposed place of 
Christ's baptism. 




As Jesus rose out of the water, a light flashed from the sky, resting on his 
and the voice of God was heard saying: "This is my Son, my 
Beloved, in whom I am well pleased." 



head, 



105 



Cfje Carpenter Heabes ?|ig H>f)0P 

a voice was heard somewhat like a peal of thunder. 
Those standing on the shore felt that some words were 
spoken, but they could not understand them. John 
alone heard and understood. It was the voice of God, 
and John afterward told the people that these were the 
words spoken: 

"This is my Son, my Beloved, in whom I am well 
pleased." 

At that instant a mighty Power came upon Jesus. 
The Spirit of God had always been with him and had 
caused him to feel that the Lord was fitting him to do 
some great work. But in that moment when the light 
from heaven fell upon him and the voice of God was 
heard, Jesus was filled with the Spirit of God as no man, 
not even the greatest of the prophets, had been filled 
before. He knew now that he was not only a prophet, 
one who hears God's voice and speaks God's words; 
but more than a prophet, he himself was the Son of God. 
He saw as in a flash what was God's plan for his king- 
dom on the earth; and that it was a kingdom far dif- 
ferent from that expected by the Jewish people. He 
knew that he, who up to that moment had been the 
woodworker of Nazareth, was from that hour to be the 
Prince of the heavenly kingdom. He was to lead the 
people to God and to show in his own life how men 
should live. He was to bring God down to men and to 
bring men to God. All this and more that we cannot 
understand came to the soul of Jesus as he stood on the 
brink of Jordan with the light of God upon his face. 



106 



glone in tfje 2Se*ert 

CHAPTER 16 

AFTER HIS baptism Jesus felt that for a time he 
must be alone to think over the great change that 
had come upon him. Only yesterday he had been 
the carpenter in Nazareth, and now he knew that he was 
the Son of God and the King of Israel! So sudden and 
mighty a change as this made him feel that he must go 
to some quiet, lonely place, where he could think and 
pray and find out his Father's will for himself and the 
work that he was to do. 

Without speaking even a word with John, Jesus 
slipped out of the crowd upon the bank of the river. He 
walked toward the south, not following the well-known 
road beside the Jordan, over which he had walked many 
times while attending the feasts in Jerusalem, but choos- 
ing the paths along the mountain-side where he would 
not meet people, for he wished not to talk with men but 
with God. 

He came at last to a very lonely place, between 
Jericho and Jerusalem; a place where no man lived and 
where even the Arabs of the desert scarcely ever wan- 
dered. The only living creatures in the desolate land 
were the wild beasts, the wolves and the foxes, whose 
howls could be heard at night. There upon the top of a 
hill, with rocks all around, he sat down to rest. His 
mind had been in such a whirl of excitement, and his 
heart was beating with such strong feeling, that he had 
never thought of taking with him any food to eat. For 
many days and nights he was alone, praying and talking 
with God and never once thinking of eating. More than 

107 




Jesus chose (he paths along the mountainside where he would not meet people, 
for he wished not to talk with men but with God. 



108 



&Ione in tfje Besiert 



a month passed away, even forty days, before the feeling 
of hunger came upon him. 

Then suddenly he felt a sharp gnawing in his body, 
and he knew that he was famishing for food. He felt 
that he must have something to eat or he would die there 
in the desert, with the great work to which God had 
called him all left undone. Around him were the rough 
stones of the wilderness, and as he looked on them, this 
thought came to his mind: 

"There is no need for me to starve in this desert. 
If I am the Son of God, as the voice from heaven said, 
then I need only to speak a word and these stones will be 
turned to bread!" 

Then Jesus thought again, and said to himself, 
"Yes, I am the Son of God, and I have the power to 
make these stones turn into bread for me to eat. But 
that power was given me by my heavenly Father; and 
it was given, not that I should use it for myself, but for 
the help of others who are in need. It is not God's will 
that I should make bread out of stones for myself." 

And then a sentence out of the Bible came to the 
mind of Jesus, and he said, "It is written, Man shall not 
live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out 
of the mouth of God." 

Jesus seemed to be alone in the desert, but there was 
one who was watching him, all unseen. That one was the 
evil spirit, Satan, who hated Jesus, knowing that he was 
the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. He had 
put into the mind of Jesus the thought of turning stones 
to bread and using the power which God had given him 
for himself alone. Jesus was quick to see the purpose 
of Satan and to turn away from it. 

Then another thought came to the mind of Jesus. 
He said to himself, "I know that I am the King of Israel, 
the Messiah whom the people have been looking for so 

109 




When Sutan, the wicked spirit, found that he could not persuade Jesus to 
do his will, he left him. 



110 



aione in tfje Be^ert 



long. But how shall I cause the people to know that I am 
their King? What can I do to make them believe in me?" 

At that moment, while Jesus was trying to think 
out the best plan for beginning his work and making 
himself, as the Son of God, known to the people, Satan, 
the evil spirit, was ready with another word. He said, 
"Here is a good plan. Go to the Temple in Jerusalem 
at some feast-time when it is crowded with people, 
and in the sight of all the crowd, leap off one of the 
towers. You will not fall to the ground, but will come 
sailing down through the air, for all power is yours. 
And when the people see you, they will fall on their faces 
before you and will believe in you as the King so long 
promised. You know that you are the Son of God and 
that God will take care of you. Don't you remember 
that in one of the psalms it is written, 'He shall give his 
angels charge over thee, and in their hands they shall 
bear thee up so that thou shalt not dash thy foot against 
a stone?' " 

Jesus saw at once that this was not God's plan, but 
Satan's plan. It would not be trusting God, but would 
be putting God's power and God's care to a trial to show 
what Jesus himself could do. He would not perform 
this foolish act, nor anything like it, of his own accord. 
Ee would wait until God told him what to do, and would 
do nothing until he was sure that it was the will of God. 
Again a sentence out of the Bible came to his mind, and 
he said: 

"It is written again, Thou shall not put the Lord 
thy God to trial.'" 

That means that we should never make a show of our 
trust in God or let others see by some act that is not 
needed what God can do to help us. We must not 
venture into danger to show how God can bring us out 
of danger. 

Ill 



&lone in tfje ©esiert 



Jesus had now settled two great questions. He 
would not use his wonder-working powers for himself, 
even to save his own life; and he would do nothing 
merely as a show, but would in all things work only the 
will of his Father. There was one more question to be 
met : he was to become the King of Israel, but what kind 
of a kingdom would he have? 

He knew well that all the Israelite people, not only 
in Judea and Galilee, but in all the lands, were looking 
for a king who should rule in Jerusalem, somewhat as the 
Emperor Tiberius was ruling in Rome. They hoped for a 
king who should gather an army, should drive out the 
Romans, should fight battles, win victories and make his 
kingdom the ruling power in the world. Thej^ looked 
for the time when the Romans should be under their 
feet, and when all other lands should pay taxes and serve 
their king in Jerusalem. 

All this Jesus knew, and Satan, the wicked spirit, 
was at his side, though unseen, to say to him : 

"Take my advice, and I will give you all the king- 
doms of the world ; for they are mine and I can give them 
to whom I please." 

Jesus knew that what the people wanted was just 
what Satan wanted, a worldly, wicked kingdom, built 
out of war and blood and the killing of all who would not 
submit to it, But that would not be the Kingdom of 
Clod. It would be the Kingdom of Satan, as so many 
kingdoms and nations have been in the past, To do as 
Satan wished him to do would be just the same as if 
he bowed down before Satan and worshipped him as his 
Lord and Master. This he would not do; and his last 
words to the tempter were: 

"Go away from me, Satan! It is written, 'Thou 
shall worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou 
serve!' " 
112 



giotte tn tf)e Besiert 



Jesus saw plainly that in making this great choice 
to please God, he would not please his own people, the 
Jews. He knew that the rulers and the priests and the 
scribes, those who were the leading men of the time, 
would be against him, would refuse to follow him, would 
try to stir up the people against him and would try to 
kill him. But Jesus was ready to die in serving God, 
rather than to live in doing the will of Satan. 

When Satan, the wicked spirit, found that he could 
not persuade Jesus to do his will, he left him. And after- 
ward, angels from heaven, sent by his Father, came to him 
in the desert and gave him all the food that he needed. 

The gospels of Matthew and Luke, which tell the 
story of this meeting with Satan and of Jesus 1 victory, 
do not say just where it took place. All we know is that 
it was in the "desert" or the "wilderness." But near 
Jericho stands a mountain where it is thought by some 
that Jesus stayed during those forty days. This moun- 
tain on that account is called by a name which means 
"forty days" — Mount Quarantania. 




Mount Quarantania. Believed by some to be the mount where 
Jesus was tempted. 

113 











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Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus, who gave him a new name, 
"The Rock," or Peter. 



114 



®ije €arltesst Jfollotoersi of f estttsi 

CHAPTER 17 

AFTER HIS forty days in the desert, Jesus began his 
v work of winning men to the Kingdom of God. This 
. plan was, at first, to talk to men one by one, until 
he could gather around him a little company of those who 
would believe in his words as a teacher, and follow him 
as their leader. The men who would be best fitted to 
become his first followers were some of those who had 
been already taught by John the Baptist. So from the 
wilderness Jesus turned his steps northward once more, 
and walked up the well-trodden road toward Bethabara, 
where nearly two months ago he had been baptized. 

At Bethabara with John the Baptist was a group or 
company of young men, who were known as John's 
"disciples," that is, men who stayed with him to learn 
his teachings after the crowds had gone home. Some 
of these were fishermen from the Sea of Galilee who had 
left their nets and their work that they might listen to 
John. 

John was standing with some of these men around 
him, when at some distance a stranger was seen walking 
up the road. These disciples of John did not know who 
this man was, but John remembered him, for the light 
flashing from the sky upon his face at the moment of his 
baptism and the voice from the heavens, had stamped 
Jesus upon his memory. He pointed to Jesus and said: 
" Look ! Yonder is the Lamb of God, who takes away 
the sin of the world! This is the one of whom I spoke 
when I said, 'After me shall come a man who is greater 
than I, and who shall baptize not in water but in the Holy 

115 



aTfje Carltest JfollotoerS of 3 essu* 

Spirit.' Upon this man I saw the Spirit coming down 
like a dove and resting upon him. And I tell you all that 
this man is the Son of God." 

While John was speaking these words, Jesus passed 
out of sight, and John and his disciples saw no more of 
him that day. But on the next day, when John was 
standing with two of his followers, Jesus again walked 
by, and John again looked at him and said to the young 
men: 

"Look! The Lamb of God!" 

The two young men when they heard these words 
at once left John and walked toward Jesus. As they 
drew near, Jesus turned and said to them: 

" Why do you follow me? What is it that you wish?" 
They said to him: "Teacher, we wish to know 
where you are staying, so that we can see you and talk 
with you." 

"Come and see," said Jesus; and he led them to the 
house where he was staying as a guest. In those times 
the Jews welcomed to their homes those who were on a 
journey and for a few days needed a resting place. It 
was about ten o'clock in the morning when those two 
men sat down in the house with Jesus, and they stayed 
with him all the rest of the day until the sun went clown, 
listening as he talked to them about the Kingdom of 
God. His words went straight to their hearts, and on 
that day those two young men believed in Jesus as their 
.Messiah-Christ; that is, the King of Israel, long promised 
by the prophets of the Old Testament and long looked 
for by the Israelite people. The two words Messiah and 
Christ mean the same. One is in the Hebrew language; 
tin- other in the Greek, and both words mean "The 
Anointed One," or "the King of Israel." 

Thus, on tli:' first day of his teaching Jesus found 
two followers. Both of these men were fishermen from 
116 



tEfje Earliest jf oliotoer* of 3fe*uS 

the Sea of Galilee, not many miles away. One was a 
man named John, who was afterward called "the disciple 
whom Jesus loved," for of all his followers, John was the 
one nearest to Jesus. Long afterward, John wrote one 
of the most precious books in the Bible, "the Gospel 
according to John," which shows us, more than any 
other book, the inmost heart of Jesus. 

The other j^oung man was named Andrew. He 
thought at once of his older brother, Simon, who was also 
a follower of John the Baptist. He went to find Simon, 
and said to him: 

"We have found the Messiah, of whom the prophets 
have spoken!" 

He spoke in the Hebrew tongue, which was the 
language of his people. If he had spoken in Greek, the 
tongue in which the New Testament was first written, 
he would have said, "We have found the Christ;" that is, 
the King. Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus; 
and as soon as Jesus looked at him, before Andrew had 
spoken his name, he said: 

"Your name is Simon, and you are the son of Jonas. 
But I will give you a new name. In the time to come 
you shall be called "the Rock." 

In the Hebrew language the word meaning "rock" 
is "Cephas" or "Kephas." In Greek it is "Peter." 
After this Simon was sometimes called Cephas, but more 
often Peter. He became a leader among the followers 
of Jesus, and many years later wrote one, perhaps two, 
of the books in the New Testament. 

Jesus had now three followers who believed in him 
as their Lord and King; and the next day he found a 
fourth. This man was named Philip, and he came from 
a place called Bethsaida, on the northern shore of the 
Sen of Galilee. Jesus said to Philip: 

"Follow me." 

117 



arije Carltest jfollotocrs of 3Fe£u£ 

And he too joined the little company of the disciples 
or followers of Jesus. Philip at once thought of a friend 
of his own, a very good and pure man. who he thought 
would be glad to join him as a follower of Jesus. He 
went to look for him and found him standing under a 
fig tree. He said: 

'We have found him of whom Moses wrote in the 
law, and of whom the prophets spoke, the Christ. His 
name is Jesus, the son of Joseph; and he comes from the 
town of Nazareth." 

Xow Nathanael's home-town was Cana, only a few 
miles from Nazareth. Nathanael thought of Nazareth as a 
mean place. He could not believe that the great King 
of Israel, the Christ, should spring from such a village. 
He looked for him to come from some great city, like 
Jerusalem, or from Bethlehem, David's town. He did 
not know that Jesus had been born in Bethlehem; in fact 
he had never heard of Jesus, and he said : 

"Do you tell me that anything good can come out of 
Nazareth?" 

Now, Philip was not wise enough to tell Nathanael 
the reasons why he believed in Jesus. It is hard to put 
into words some of our deepest thoughts. But he gave 
to Nathanael a very wise answer. 

"Well," said Philip, "come and see Jesus for your- 
self." 

Jesus had never seen Nathanael before, but as he 
drew near, Jesus said to those who were standing by: 

"Look! here comes a true Israelite, a man of God, 
one whose heart has in it nothing evil." 

Nathanael was greatly surprised at these words of 
Jesus. He said, 

"How is it that you know me?" 

"Before Philip spoke to you," answered Jesus, 
"while you were standing under the fig tree, I saw you." 
118 



3H)e earliest jfoilotoer* of 3t*v& 

"Teacher," said Nathanael, "you are the Son of 
God; you are the King of Israel." 

Jesus said: 

"Do you believe because I said, 'I saw you under- 
neath the fig tree?' You will yet see greater things than 
these. In truth, I say to you that you shall see the heaven 
opened and the angels of God going up and coming 
down upon the Son of Man." 

By "the Son of Man," Jesus meant himself. He 
used those words to show that while he was "the Son 
of God," he was also a man among men. 

Jesus had been preaching or talking to a few men 
about the Kingdom of God, and already he had gained 
five followers. There may have been others, for not 
long afterwards we find James, the brother of John, 
among his disciples. 




The village of liethphage, on the Mount of Olives 



11U 




Jesus, with his first followers, John, Andrew, Philip and Nathanael, left the river 
Jordan and walked to the village of ('ana in Galilee. 



120 



&f)e OTater fturneb to OTttte 

CHAPTER 18 

SOON AFTER Jesus met the men who became his 
first followers he left the river Jordan, and with 
these men walked to the land of Galilee, to the 
village of Cana, about six miles north of Nazareth. 
This was the town where Nathanael, one of the first five 
followers of Jesus, lived. 

At Cana a marriage was to be held, and Jesus with 
all his followers was invited. In that land, at a marriage, 
a feast was always given, and all the friends of the newly- 
married couple, with their friends also, and almost 
ever} r body in the village, were expected to come. The 
feasting and dancing and merry-making often lasted 
through a whole week. 

Before the feast was over they found that the wine, 
which in those times evetybody drank freely, was used 
up, and those who were giving the feast had no wine to 
set before their guests. This filled them with alarm, for 
at such times the wine was expected to flow freely, and 
not to have wine for the company at a feast was con- 
sit lered almost a disgrace. 

The mother of Jesus was there as a friend of the 
family. She thought of a way to help those who were 
giving the feast, and called her son aside from the crowd, 
and said to him very quietly: ' 

"They have no wine." 

She knew what very few knew, that Jesus was the 
Son of God, and that all power was in his hands. He 
had qo1 yd done any of those wonderful works of curing 
the sick, making the blind to sec and making the deaf 

121 



&fje OTater Curneb to W&int 



to hear, which he did so often afterward; but Alary 
believed that he could do them if he chose. She thought 
that perhaps he would use his power to give the wine 
that was needed. It was with this hope that she said 
to him, "They have no wine." 

The answer that Jesus gave was not such in its 

words as to encour- 
age her. 

"Woman," said 
he, "what have you 
to do with me in this 
matter? My time 
is not yet come." 

His speaking to 
his mother as "Wo- 
man," instead of say- 
ing "Mother," as a 
young man would 
among us, was not 
lacking in respect. 
It was the usage of 
that time for a son 
to say 
and not 
She saw in his face 




"Woman," 
"Mother." 



Cana, and its well 



a look showing her that she had not spoken in vain. 
So she turned to the servants who were standing near. 
"Whatever he tells you to do," she said, "do it." 

One of the usages of the Jews was to wash their 
hands before they sat down to a meal. This washing 
was not merely to make their hands clean; it was a sort 
of religious service, and the Jews were very strict in 
doing it, When so large a company met for a feast, a 
greal deal of w:i!>-r was needed. In the hall were standing 
six huge jars for water, each jar of a size to hold nearly 
122 



ftfje Mater tKurneb to Wine 



twenty gallons. They were nearly empty, because all 
the guests had washed their hands before sitting down 
at the feast. Jesus pointed to these jars and said to the 
servants : 

"Fill all those jars with water." 

They obeyed him and filled all the jars up to the 
brim. Then Jesus said again: 

"Now draw out from the jars, and carry what you 
take out to the ruler of the feast." 

Wondering, the servants dipped their pitchers into 
the great jars which only a few moments before they 
had filled with water. How 
surprised the}^ were to find 
each pitcher as it came out 
full of red wine! They car- 
ried it to the ruler of the 
feast. He tasted it and saw 
that it was wine of the very 
best kind. He did not know 
how it had been made, but 
supposed that it had been 
brought suddenly from some stone watei "i ars 

wine merchant. He called the young man who had 
been married, and in whose honor the feast was being 
held, and said to him: 

"Everybody serves his best wine at the beginning 
of his feast; and afterward, when people have been 
drinking some time, he brings wine that is poorer; but 
you have kept your best wine until now!" 

The only ones who knew whence the new wine had 
come were the servants. But they soon told others, and 
the word was passed around the company that Jesus of 
Nazareth, Mary's son, had wrought this wonderful work. 
His followers, the five or more disciples who had come 
with Jesus to the wedding feast, now believed more fully 

123 





The mother of Jesus called her son aside and said to him quietly: 
"They have no wine." 



124 



&$t OTater GTtirneb to OTtne 



than before that their teacher was more than a mere 
man, that the power of God was upon him and that 
whatever he should say was the word of God. 

Such a work as that of turning the water into wine, 
a work that no man could do without God's power, was 
called "a miracle." It showed that the one who wrought 
it was a man sent from God, doing God's will and speak- 
ing God's word. This was the first miracle or work of 
wonder that Jesus wrought; but after this we shall read 
of many miracles. 

From the wedding feast Jesus went down the moun- 
tains of Galilee to the city of Capernaum, which stood 
on the shore of the Sea of Galilee on the northwest. 
With Jesus on this visit to Capernaum were his mother, 
some of his younger brothers and his followers. 




Oriental basin, ewer, etc. 



125 




Nicodemus sought Jesus quietly one night to talk with him and learn 
more of his teachings. 



126 



Wi)t lorb in 3|te temple 

CHAPTER 19 

THE SPRING-TIME of the year came, when the 
people from all parts of the land went up to Jeru- 
salem to attend the great feast of the Passover. 

You remember that this feast was held to keep in 
mind how more than a thousand years before God had 
led the Israelite people out of Egypt, where they had 
been slaves. It was called the feast of the Passover 
because on the night of their going-out the angel of death 
had "passed over" the houses of the Israelites when he 
brought death to the Egyptian homes. On that night, 
too, they went out of Egypt in such haste that the women 
did not have time to wait for the bread to rise before 
baking it, and all the bread eaten at that time was 
"unleavened bread," or bread made without yeast. 

To keep in mind that great day, the day when Israel 
became a nation, ruling itself, in the spring of every year 
all the people gathered in Jerusalem, and for one week 
ate unleavened bread, that is, bread made without yeast. 
Great services were held in the Temple on every day of 
ill is feast; and on one evening a special dinner of a 
roasted lamb was eaten by everybody, to keep in mind 
fche last meal which the Israelites ate in the land of 
Egypt, with their hats on their heads and their cloaks 
on their shoulders and their shoes on their feet, all ready 
to march away. 

Jesus and the little company of his disciples or 
followers went up to Jerusalem, walking, as many times 
before, down the Jordan valley to Jericho, and then 
climbing the hills to the holy city. For many years 

127 



£fje lorb in ^isi temple 



Jesus had been coming to the feast of the Passover; but 
never before had he come as he came now, in the power 
of the Spirit, as the Son of God. 

Around the House of God was a great open court, 
called the Court of the Gentiles, where foreign people 
who were not Jews came to pray; since none but Jews 
or Israelites could enter the inner courts. But the Jews 
held all Gentiles or foreign people in contempt. They 
did not look upon the part of the Temple buildings where 
foreigners prayed as holy; and they had turned this 
court, the Court of the Gentiles, into a market place. 
Here Jesus found everj^where sheep and oxen brought 
there for sale; cages full of doves, which w r ere sold to 
the poorer people for offerings upon the altar; counters 
where sat men changing the money of people from other 
lands into the coins of Judea. There was nothing of the 
quiet and peace which should be in a place of prayer; 
all was noise and confusion; the lowing of oxen, the 
voices of men buying and selling, the jingling of silver 
on the tables. 

These sights and sounds stirred the heart of Jesus. 
He felt that such w 7 ork as went on around him was unfit 
and was wicked in a place set apart for the worship of 
God. He picked up a piece of rope from the floor and 
untwisted its cords until it seemed like a whip. Then 
standing before the buyers and the sellers, he called 
upon them to stop their trading. They looked up 
amazed at this stranger whose face glowed with power 
as though he were a king. 

Alone, without help from anyone, he drove all these 
people out of the court. He bade them lead away the 
sheep and the oxen; he commanded those who sold the 
doves to carry out their cages; he overturned the tables 
of the money-changers and sent their silver rolling upon 

the floor. 
128 




Standing before the buyers and the sillers, he called upon (hem to stop their 

trading; he overturned the tables of the money changers and sent 

their silver rolling upon the floor. 



Cfje %orb in Ute temple 



"Take all these things away/' he cried out. "This 
is the house of my Father; you shall not make it a house 
for buying and selling." 

Even the little company of his disciples — Peter, 
John, Andrew and the others — stood still in wonder as 
they saw their Master alone, armed only with a piece 
of rope, driving out the gates this crowd of men, who 
were frightened at the kingliness of his looks and 
fled before him, not for one moment daring to resist 
his will. 

But soon came the priests and rulers of the Temple. 
Thej' ought not to have allowed these men to trade in the 
Temple Court and to make it a market place. But some 
of them took a share of the money that was made in 
that place. One high priest, it is said, owned all the 
cages of doves and pigeons that were kept in the Temple 
for sale. These rulers were very angr}^ to have the trad- 
ing stopped and their gains taken away. 

"What right have you to come here," they said to 
Jesus, "and make trouble? Who are you that you should 
undertake to rule in this place? Show us some sign or 
proof that you are Master here!" 

"The time is coming," said Jesus, "when I will show 
you a sign of my power, but not now; and when that 
sign comes, you will not believe it." 

Then, making a motion of his hands as though 
pointing to himself, he added: 

"Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise 
it up." 

The Jews were horrified at these words; for they 
thought that he was speaking of the building on Mount 
Moriah, and in their mind to speak of pulling down the 
house where God dwelt was a terrible thing. But Jesus 
was speaking of himself as the Son of God, in whose body 
dwelt the Spirit of God. Far more than that building, 
9 129 



Zi)t TLovh in JM* temple 



where men cheated and did evil deeds, Jesus himself 
was the house of God. The rulers said: 

"This Temple has taken forty-six years to build, and 
it is not finished yet; and will you raise it up in three 
days?" 

Nearly fifty years before, King Herod had begun to 
rebuild the Temple, which in his time had become old and 
decayed. The repairs were made very slowly, and in the 
time of Jesus the building was still far from being fin- 
ished. It was not finished until more than twenty years 
afterward. 

We know what Jesus meant by those words; that 
three years afterward, those very men would cause him, 
the Son of God, whose body was God's dwelling place, 
to be put to death ; and within three days after his death 
he would rise from his tomb, to be the Temple of God 
again and forever. The disciples of Jesus heard these 
words, but at that time did not know what they meant. 

Jesus stayed for some time in Jerusalem and talked 
to the people about the Kingdom of God. He also did 
some wonderful works, such as curing the sick; and the 
people who saw these acts believed his words, as from one 
whom God had sent to men. But the priests and the 
rulers hated Jesus, because he spoke against their wicked 
lives, and they did all that they could to turn the people 
away from him. 

Among the rulers, however, were a few men who 
listened to Jesus and believed his words. One of these 
was a man named Nicodemus. He wished to have a 
talk with Jesus and learn more of his teachings. But 
he was afraid to be seen with Jesus in the day-time, 
knowing that the other rulers were so strongly against 
Jesus. So he went quietly one night, unknown to every- 
body, and had a meeting with Jesus. Nicodemus began 
by saying: 
1,30 



W&e ILorb in His; temple 



"Teacher, we all know that you have been sent by 
God to speak to us, because no one could do these won- 
derful things that you are doing unless God were with 
him to give him power." 

Jesus said to him: 

"Let me tell you and all your people one thing. 
No man can have any part in the Kingdom of God unless 
he is born again from God." 

Xicodemus did not know what this meant, and he 
said, "How can a man be born again after he is grown 
up?" 

"Every man," said Jesus, "must become a new 
man and have the Spirit of God dwelling in him, if he 
is to come into the Kingdom of God. Do not be sur- 
prised that I say to you, 'You must be born anew.' 
There are many things that you cannot understand. 
Listen to the wind blowing! You can hear it, but you 
cannot tell from what place it comes nor to what place 
it goes. Just so is it with every one who is born of God's 
spirit." 

What Jesus meant in these words was that every 
one who would be a follower of Christ needs to have a new 
heart and to live a new life; and this new heart and new 
life God alone can give to him. 

One great sentence was spoken by Jesus at this 
time. Here it is. 

"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, 
that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but 
have eternal life." 



131 



m tfje ©lb OTell 



CHAPTER 20 

AFTER THE Passover, Jesus went teaching through 
the villages in Judea, the province or part of 
the land around Jerusalem. As Judea was the 
largest of the five provinces, it gave its name also to the 
whole land, which was called both "Judea" and "the 
land of Israel." John the Baptist was still preaching 
and baptizing, although the crowds which now came to 
hear him were not so great as before. While John was 
near the Sea of Galilee, Jesus stayed in Judea, so that 
none might think that he was trying to draw the people 
away from John. 

But after a time Jesus heard that John the Baptist 
had been put in prison by Herod Antipas, the wicked 
ruler of Galilee and Perea. Herod had stolen from his 
brother Philip his wife, named Herodias, and was living 
with her. John said to him: 

"It is against the law of Moses and of God for you 
to take away your brother's wife." 

This made Herod angry with John, and Herodias 
even more angry. She wished to have John put to death 
for his bold words, but Herod, though he was not a good 
man, was unwilling to have John slain, and partly to 
keep him safe from the hate of his wife, he ordered that 
he should be put into prison. To a man like John, 
used to the free life of the wilderness, and not even 
willing to live in town or village, it must have been 
hard to be shut up in a prison cell, within four walls, 
and to be able only to see the outside world through 
grated windows. 
132 



at tfte #U> OTleU 



As soon as Jesus learned that John the Baptist 
was shut up in prison, he ended his work in Judea, and 
with his disciples started for Galilee, his old home in the 
north. On this journey he did not go the way of the 
river Jordan, but took the most direct road, which would 
lead him through the land of Samaria. He knew that the 
Samaritan people who lived in that land hated the Jews 
and often robbed them when they traveled through 









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John the Baptist rebuking Herod 

their country. Still, Jesus made up his mind to go 
through Samaria. 

Leading the little company of his followers, he 
walked northward from Jerusalem, past Bethel, where 
long before Jacob lying on his pillow of stone had his 
wonderful dream of the ladder reaching up to heaven; 
past Shiloh, where once the holy Ark of God had been 

133 



at tfje ®lb Wltll 



kept in the Tabernacle in the days of Samuel; and over 
mountains where battles had been fought and victories 
won. 

Early one morning, after walking in the night, 
Jesus and his disciples came to an old well, about two 
miles from the city of Shechem. Nearby was a little 
village, named Sychar, which could be seen from the 
well, and although it was a Samaritan village the fol- 
lowers of Jesus went to H to buy some food. This well 
was very old. It had been dug by Jacob, the early 
father of all the Israelite people, more than eighteen 
hundred years before Jesus came to that place. And it 
is still there, a well dug out of the solid rock nearly one 
hundred feet deep, and even now having water in it ten 
months of the year, but apt to be dry in the summer. 
That well is now nearly four thousand years old, yet 
every traveler who visits it may look down into its 
depths, may see a bucket of water drawn and may have 
a drink from it. 

In that time a well did not have with it a pump for 
bringing up the water, nor was there even a rope to let 
down into it; but each one who came to draw water — 
and it was generally a woman — brought a rope and a 
water-jar. As Jesus sat beside the well, very tired and 
hungry and thirsty, he had nothing with which to draw 
water. As the Son of God upon the earth, he 
could have made the water come to him, but he would 
not, for you remember that in the desert Jesus would 
do no wonderful work, no miracle, merely for his own 
need. 

Suddenly Jesus heard the sound of someone coming. 
He looked up and saw a woman, with her water-jar 
and rope, standing by the well. From her dress he 
knew that she was not a Jewish but a Samaritan woman, 
and being the Son of God, he saw more. He knew at 
134 



at tfte 0lh Well 



once all her life, which had not been a good life. But 
he looked into her heart and saw that she had a long- 
ing after God and after good. He said to her: 

"Will you give me a drink of water from this well?" 

The woman glanced at Jesus, and knowing from 
his dress and his manner of speaking that he was a 
Jew, said to him: 

"How is it that you, who are a Jew, ask drink from 
me, a Samaritan woman?" 

The Jews looked down upon the Samaritans, never 
asked any favors of them, and would not drink from a 
cup or pitcher that a Samaritan had handled. The 
woman knew this, and was greatly surprised that this 
strange young man of the Jewish race should speak to 
her. Jesus answered her: 

"If you knew what God's free gift is, and who he is 
that is asking you for a drink, you would have asked 
him instead, and he would have given you living water." 

As Jesus said these words, very thoughtfully, the 
woman looking and listening felt that this was no com- 
mon man. She thought that he might be a prophet, a 
man whom God had sent to do mighty works and speak 
the words of God. She said, very respectfully: 

"Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the 
well is very deep. Where can you get your living water? 
Are you a greater man than our father Jacob, who dug 
this well and gave it to us, and drank of its water him- 
self, with his sons and his sheep and oxen?" 

Jesus answered her: 

"Anyone who drinks this water will be thirsty 
again, but anyone who drinks the water that I will give 
him will never thirst any more. The water that I will 
give him will turn into a well of water springing up to 
everlasting life." 

"Oh, sir," said the woman, "give me some of your 

135 



£t tfje 0lh WBtU 



living water, so that I need not be thirsty nor come all 
this road to draw water." 

Jesus looked earnestly at the woman's face, and 
then said to her: 

"Go home; call your husband, and come here 
again." 

The woman's face clouded, her eyes dropped, and 
she looked as if she felt ashamed, while she answered in 
a low voice, "I have no husband." 

Jesus looked at her steadily, and said: 

"You have spoken the truth. You have no hus- 
band. But you have had five husbands, and the man 
with whom you are living now is not your husband. 
You spoke the truth in those words." 

The woman was filled with wonder as she heard the 
stranger speak. She saw at once that here was a man 
who knew everything. She was sure that God had 
spoken to this man and given him this knowledge of her. 
"Sir," said she, "I see that you are a prophet of God. 
Tell me, then, whether our people or the Jews are right. 
Our fathers have worshipped God on this mountain; 
but the Jews say that Jerusalem is the place where all 
should go to worship God." 

As she spoke, she pointed to the mountain that was 
standing near, Mount Gerizim, on the top of which was 
the temple of the Samaritans. 

'Woman, believe me, answered Jesus, "there is 
coining a time when men shall worship God in other 
places besides this mountain and Jerusalem. The time 
is near, it has even now come, when the true worshippers 
everywhere shall pray to the Father in spirit and in 
truth. God is a Spirit, dwelling everywhere, and those 
who worship him, must worship in spirit and in truth." 

The woman said to Jesus: 

"I know that Messiah is coming, the Christ sent 
136 




JegOfl sal beside the well, very tired and thirsty, but he had nothing with which 

to draw water. Suddenly he heard the .sound of someone coming, and 

looking up saw a Samaritan woman with her water jar. 



at t&e ©ib mtii 



from God to be our King. When he comes he will 
explain everything to us." 

Then Jesus said to her, "I who am now speaking to 
you am he, the Christ!" 

Just at that moment the followers of Jesus, John 
and Peter, and the others, came back from the village 
with the food which they had bought. They were sur- 
prised to find their Master talking with a woman, but 
they said nothing. 

The woman had come to the well to draw water, 
but in her interest in this wonderful stranger she forgot 
all about her errand. Leaving her water-jar she ran 
back to the village and said to everybody whom she met : 

" Come with me and meet a man who told me every- 
thing I have done in all my life! Is not this man the 
Christ whom we are looking for?" 

After the woman went away toward her home, the 
disciples urged Jesus to eat some of the food which they 
had brought. A little while before Jesus had been 
hungry, but now in talking with the woman and leading 
her mind to the truth, he had forgotten his own needs. 

"I have food to eat," said he, "that you know 
nothing of." 

They looked at each other and said: 

"Can it be that someone has brought him something 
to eat?" 

But Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will 
of my Father who sent me into the world, and to finish 
the work that he gave me to do. Do you say that there 
arc four months before the harvest time will come? 
I tell you to look on the fields, and find them already 
white for the harvest. You shall reap and gain a rich 
harvest, gathering grain for everlasting life." 

Jesus meant that this woman, bad though she may 
have been before, was now eager to hear his words and 

137 



9t tfje @>lb Witll 



to come to God. So his disciples would soon find the 
hearts of men everywhere, like a field of ripe grain 
ready to be won and to be saved. 

Soon the woman came back to the well with many 
of her people. They all asked Jesus to come to their 
village and teach them. He went to the town of Sychar 
and stayed there two days, talking to the people about 
the Kingdom of God and showing them how they might 
enter into it. Many of the people in that place and near 
it believed in Jesus as the Christ, the King sent from 
God, and they said: 

"Now we have heard for ourselves and we know 
that this is really the Saviour of the world." 




Scene in Damascus, showing houses on the walls 



138 



Gftje &aiAtmm'gl&ov 



CHAPTER 21 



AFTER STAYING two days in Sychar, the village 
near Jacob's well, Jesus and his disciples went on 
their way northward to the land of Galilee. They 
walked across the great plain where so many battles had 




Jacob's well as it is at the present time 

been fought in the old times, and climbed the mountains 
beyond it. Nazareth, where Jesus had lived for so 
many years, was on his way, but Jesus did not at this 

139 



£f)e J^obleman'ss J?op 



time stop there, for he had in his mind to visit it a few 
weeks later. With his followers, Jesus came for the 
second time to Cana, the place where a few months 
before he had turned the water into wine. 

AYhen Jesus was at Cana at his first visit, very few 
people had heard his name. But now everybody was 

talking about him, 
for all the people 
who had come home 
from the Feast of 
the Passover told 
their friends and 
neighbors of the 
w onderful young 
Prophet who had 
been preaching in 
Jerusalem, and had 
driven the men buy- 
ing and selling out 
of the Temple, and 
had wrought won- 
ders in curing the 
sick. 

About twenty 
miles from Cana was 

the city of Caper- 
in the court of a village home in Cana of Galilee . , , 

naum, on the shore 
of the Sea of Galilee. At Capernaum was living a man of 
high rank, an official of King Herod Antipas. This 
nobleman was in deep trouble, for his son was very ill 
with a great fever and lying at the point of death. The 
news that Jesus was again in Galilee, and only twenty 
miles away, brought to the nobleman a hope that 
perhaps this Prophet might be willing to come down 
from Cana to Capernaum and cure his son. 

140 




Ql\)t J?obleman'si Jgop 



At once he made up his mind to go to Jesus and ask 
him to come and help him. It was a hard journey from 
Capernaum to Cana, twenty miles of mountain climb- 
ing; but this anxious father started very early in the 
morning, and came to Cana at about one o'clock in the 
afternoon. He found Jesus, told him how ill his son 
was, and begged him to come to Capernaum and cure 
him. Jesus did not seem very willing to go. He said 
to the nobleman: 









. ;^"'--';\ 


. 


-__■'- ~^_\- _ .r----- -.._•■'■:■'! 



Site of Capernaum 

" Unless you people are always seeing me do won- 
derful works you will not believe in me." 

"Oh, sir," pleaded the troubled father, "do come 
down quickly or my son will die!" 

"There is no need for me to come," said Jesus. 
"You may go home, for your son will live and will get 
well." 

These words would make a heavy trial to this man's 
faith in Jesus. For how could he know that his son 
would be well, without any sign given him by Jesus? 
And how could he understand that Jesus by a word 

141 



Cfje J2ol)lcman'* pop 



could cure someone who he had not seen and who was 
twenty miles away? But the father at once believed 
the promise of Jesus. He did not even hurry home to 
see if his boy was cured, but waited until evening before 
starting upon his journey. 

The next day, as he was nearing home, his servants 
met him with the glad news: 

"Your son is living and is very much better." 

"At what time," said the nobleman, "did he begin 
to improve?" 

"It was yesterda}-," they told him, "at about one 
o'clock when the fever left him." 

The man was not surprised, for it was just as he 
had expected. That hour, one o'clock, was the very 
time that Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." 

This miracle, or work of wonder, was much talked 
about and led not only this nobleman, but all his family 
with him, to believe that Jesus was the Saviour and the 
King of Israel who had been promised so long. 



142 



l^e Carpenter in 2|t£ 2|ome=toton 

CHAPTER 22 

SOON AFTER the visit to Cana, and the cure of the 
nobleman's son, Jesus walked over to his old home 
at Nazareth, which was only six miles away. He 
thought of his sisters in that city, who were now grown 
women with children of their own, and he longed to see 
them. He thought, too, of the boys with whom in 
other days he had played and had sat in the school, now 
men with families; of his former neighbors, whom he 
had not seen for nearly a year. His heart was full of 
love for his own people, and he felt that out of the power 
God had given him he could speak to them words that 
would do them good. 

Of course, the people of Nazareth had heard wonder- 
ful stories about their former townsman; that he had 
suddenly come forth as a great teacher, speaking truths 
such as never had been heard before; and especially, 
that he had done wondrous works of curing the sick at 
Cana and at Capernaum. All these reports were sur- 
prising to the people of Nazareth, because among them 
Jesus had never shown any signs of greatness. He had 
sal in his seat in the church, but had never spoken from 
the pulpit; and the}^ had known him as a good young 
man, kind and gentle toward all, and an honest, skilful 
workman at his trade. But they had never thought of 
him as a teacher, or a prophet bearing a message from 
God, or as a worker of wonders, such as they had heard 
of his doing in Cana and Capernaum. 

It was expected that Jesus on the Sabbath day 
would speak in the church at Nazareth (they called 

143 




The people in the synagogue at Nazareth did not care for the words of Jesus. 

In their rage and fury they leaped from their seats and 

dragged him out of doors. 

144 



I&tyt Carpenter in Ht£ ?|ome=toton 

their church "the synagogue/' a word that means "a 
meeting of the people"); and everybody was present to 
see him and to hear him. In a gallery on one side were 
his sisters, looking and listening, but unseen, because 
the women's gallery in all Jewish churches was covered 
with a lattice-work. There on the floor, seated on rugs 
or mats, were his neighbors and the people who had seen 
him grow up from a boy to a man. They were present, 
not to learn, but to listen and judge his words, and 
especially to see what great things he might do. 

Jesus walked up to the platform, and the officer in 
charge handed him the rolls on which were written the 
lessons for the day. This officer was at the same time 
the janitor or keeper of the building and the teacher of 
the school held there during the week. This man may 
have been the teacher who had taught Jesus as a boy to 
read. One of the lessons for that day was in the sixty- 
first chapter of the book of Isaiah the prophet. A part 
of it read thus: 

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, 
Because he hath set me apart to preach the gospel to the poor. 
Be has sent me to say that the prisoners shall be set free, 
That the blind shall have their sight again, 
That the poor and suffering shall be given freedom, 
That the time of favor from God has come." 

While Jesus was reading from the Bible, he stood 
up, and all who were present also stood, for the Jews 
showed their respect for the Bible by standing whenever 
it was read. When he had finished the reading, he 
folded up the roll, handed it back to the officer, and sat 
down, and the people also sat down likewise. Often the 
man who preached in the synagogue or church was seated 
while speaking. Jesus began by saying: 

"Today this word of the prophet has come to pass 
in your hearing." 
10 145 



Cfje Carpenter in JN J|ome=toton 

And he went on to tell in simple, gentle words how 
he had been sent to preach to the poor, to set the 
prisoners free, to give sight to the blind and to bring the 
news of God's goodness to men. At first the people 
listened with the deepest interest, and their hearts were 
touched by his kind and tender words. 

But soon they began to whisper among themselves. 
One said, "Why should this carpenter try to teach us?" 
And another, "This man is no teacher! He is only the 
son of Joseph the carpenter! We know his brothers, and 
his sisters are living here." And some began to say, 
" Why does he not do here some of the wonderful things 
that they say he has done in other places? We want to 
see some of his marvelous cures with sick people!" 

Jesus knew their thoughts, but he would not do 
wonders merely to be seen by men. He said to them: 

"I know that you are saying, 'Let us see some 
wonderful work, like that on the nobleman's son in 
Capernaum.' I tell you in truth, that no prophet or 
teacher has honor among his own people. 

"You remember that in the days of Elijah the prophet, 
when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, 
and no rain fell, there was a great famine in the land and 
a need of bread. At that time there were many widows 
in the land of Israel, yet Elijah was not sent to any of 
these, but to a widow woman in Zarephath of Zidon, a 
foreigner and a Gentile. And in the time of Elisha the 
prophet after Elijah, there were many lepers in the land 
of Israel, yet none of these was made clean of his leprosy, 
but only Xaaman the Syrian." 

These words, telling how God had chosen foreigners 
instead of Israelites for his works of wonder, made the 
people in the church very angry, for they did not care for 
the words of Jesus; they only wished to see him do 
some miracle or wonderful act. They would not listen 

1 Hi 



GTfje Carpenter in ?|tsi ?|ome=toton 

to him; in their rage and fury, they leaped from their 
seats; they rushed upon the platform; they seized hold 
of Jesus and dragged him out of doors. They took him 
up to the top of the hill above the city, and would have 
thrown him down its steep side to his death. But the 
time for Jesus to die had not yet come. By the power 
of God, Jesus slipped quietly out of their hands and 
went away. He walked away very sadly from Nazareth, 
for he had longed to bring the good news of God's bless- 
ings first of all to his own people. 




Approach to Jerusalem, from the railroad station on the southwest 



147 









HI W 






'^-^H^W J 


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!^is^ 


•p 


j^r ' 


" v " '^ Jif 




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Jrfety 










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Jewish fishermen by the Sea of Galilee 



148 



Jf our Jf tstfjermen Calleb 

CHAPTER 23 

THE PLACE which Jesus chose for his home, after 
being driven away from Nazareth, was Caper- 
naum. This was a large city on the northwestern 
shore of the Sea of Galilee. Only one city beside the 
lake was larger — Tiberias. That was a new city, built 
by Herod, the ruler of Galilee, and named after the 
Emperor Tiberius at Rome. But Tiberias was not a 
Jewish city. It contained temples to idols, its people 
were foreigners, and very few Jews were willing to live 
within its walls. Then, too, Herod Antipas lived there 
in a palace which he had built, and Jesus did not wish 
to be near Herod. 

But Capernaum was a Jewish city, and Jesus felt 
that his work was to be among the Jews. At least four 
of the early followers of Jesus lived in Capernaum; two 
pair of brothers, Simon and Andrew, the sons of Jonas; 
and James and John, the sons of Zebedee. These four 
men were partners with Zebedee in the fishing trade. 
They owned a number of fishing boats and had men 
working for them. The lake was full of fish, and many 
people all around it lived by fishing. The fish in the 
Sea of Galilee were good food, and were sent to all the 
nearby cities. It is said that one emperor at Rome, not 
long after this time, had sent to him every week a barrel 
full of fisli from the Sea of Galilee, for his table in the 
palace. 

The people of Capernaum had heard of Jesus, for all 
those who went up to the feasts in Jerusalem brought 
home reports of this wonderful teacher and healer of the 

149 



Jfour Jfisljermen Calleb 



sick. Wherever Jesus went, crowds gathered around 
him to listen to his words, and especially eager to see if 
he would do any of his wonderful works. 




One morning while Jesus was walking on the beach, 
he met some of his followers. Having now come to their 
own home, these men had gone back to their old work, 
•is fishermen, and their boats were lying upon the shore. 
L50 



Jfour Jft£f)ermen Calleb 



The men had been fishing in the night before, and they 
were now washing their nets upon the beach. Jesus 
spoke to one of his followers, Simon Peter, to push his 
boat a little way out into the water. He did so, and 
then Jesus sat down in the boat, while a great crowd 
stood on the shore, but within reach of his voice. Then 
from the boat as a pulpit he talked to the people on the 
shore. What he said at that time was not written 
down; but it was very much like his teachings as given 
in the Sermon on the Mount, which may be read in the 
fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of the gospel by 
Matthew. There is no doubt that in his talks in many 
places to different crowds, Jesus often gave the same 
teachings over and over again. 

After Jesus had ended his speaking to the people, 
he said to Simon, who with the other fishermen was 
standing beside him: 

"Push out into the deep water, and let down your 
nets for a catch of fish." 

"Master," answered Simon, "we worked all last 
night and caught not a single fish. However, if you tell 
us to try again, I will let down the nets." 

They did so, and now their nets took in a great 
shoal of fish, so large a number that the nets began to 
break. Then they beckoned to their partners in the 
other boat to come and help them. They came, and 
helped to pull up the nets and to empty the fish into 
the boats. So many were the fish that they filled both 
the boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon 
Peter saw all this, he was struck with wonder and with 
fear, for he felt that this had been done by the power 
of God. He fell upon his knees in the boat to Jesus, 
saying: 

"0 Lord, I am full of sin, and am not worthy of all 
this! Leave me, O Lord!" 

151 



Jfour Jftsfjermen Calleb 



But Jesus said to him and to the other three men 
with him: 

"Do not be afraid; come after me; and from this 
time you shall be fishers of men." 

He meant that they were now to leave their nets 
and their boats, to stay with him; and after learning 
from him, they were to go out and show men the way 
out of sin into the Kingdom of God. 

As soon, therefore, as they had brought their nets 
and their fishes to the land, they left them with Zebedee. 
the father of James and John, and with the hired men. 

From that day these four men stayed with Jesus 
and went with him on all his journeys, listening to his 
words, until from hearing them often, they learned them 
and could repeat them to others. 




Pool of Hezekiah at Jerusalem 



L52 




The disciples let down (heir nets and tocik in a great shoal of fish, so large a 
number that the nets began to break. 



STesuS tn tlje CfjurcJ), in ttje ?|ou3e, 
anb tn tfje Street 

CHAPTER 24 

THE STORY of the great catch of fish was told 
abroad, for many saw the boats loaded with the 
fish brought to the shore, and we may be sure 
that all who ate a breakfast of those fish spoke of the 
wonder. Partly as a result of this report, when the 
Sabbath day came, the church in Capernaum was 
crowded with people to see and hear this new Rabbi. 
" Rabbi" was the name that Jews gave to men who 
taught the law in their churches. Although Jesus had 
never taken the course of study at Jerusalem which 
would give him that title, he was generally called 
" Rabbi" by the people. The people listened with 
wonder to the words of Jesus, for his teaching was very 
different from that of the scribes who taught the law. 
He spoke on great things — the kingdom which God was 
soon to set up, and how the people were to be made 
ready for his coming. Then, too, he spoke with power, 
as Lord of all; and the listeners felt that these were the 
words of one who had been sent by God. 

While Jesus was speaking in the church, the service 
was stopped by the loud screaming of a furious man who 
had come in. This man was suffering with a terrible 
evil, worse than any disease. Into his body had come 
in some way an evil spirit, a demon. This demon con- 
trolled the man and drove him to wild acts and words. 
The words which were spoken by this man's tongue were 
not his own, but the words of the wicked spirit within 
him. The spirit, using the man's voice, shrieked aloud: 

153 




From all parts of the city of Capernaum they brought those that were sick, or 
had evil spirits, and Jesus healed them all. 



]-l 



Sesiug in tfje Cfjurd) 



"Ha, you Jesus of Nazareth, let us alone! What 
business have } t ou with us? Have you come to destroy 
us? I know who you are; you are God's Holy One!" 

But Jesus at once said to the wicked spirit in the 
man, "Be still, and come out of him!" 

At these words the demon threw the man down 
upon the floor, as if to kill him; and then went out of 
the man sudden^, leaving him almost dead. Soon 
they found that the man, whom everybody had feared 
before, so fierce had he been, was now perfectly well and 
quite free from the evil spirit. 

Then surprise and wonder came upon all. They 
talked about it to one another, saying: 

"What does all this mean? What new teaching is 
this? Why, this man speaks to the evil spirits with 
power, and they obey him and come out." 

As the people left the church they told everyone 
whom they met of this mighty act of Jesus. These men 
and women told others, and soon the news of Jesus' 
power went through all the towns and villages in that 
part of the land. 

After the service in the church was over, Jesus went 
home to dine in the house of Simon and Andrew, and 
with him went also the two brothers, James and John. 
In the house they told him that Simon's mother-in-law, 
the mother of his wife, was very ill, having a high fever. 
He came, stood by her bed, leaned over her and took 
her by the hand as if to raise her up. As he touched 
her, she felt a new power shoot through her body. 
Instantly the fever left her; she rose up from her bed, 
perfectly well, and helped to make ready the dinner 
and serve it. 

Jesus stayed in Simon's house that afternoon. 
When the sun went down and the Sabbath was ended, 
they found a crowd of people filling the street in front 



3Fe£u* m tfje Cfjurci) 



of the house. From all parts of the city they had 
brought people that were sick, or had evil spirits, like 
the man whom Jesus had cured in the church. As he 
came out of the house he laid his hands upon these sick 
people, one by one; and as soon as he touched them, 
they rose up well. The evil spirits in some of the men 
tried to speak to him. But he would not allow them, 
and gave them command at once to come out of the men 
in whom they were. They dared not to disobey Jesus, 
came out and went away. 

On that night, while everybody was sleeping, Jesus 
rose up long before day, while it was still dark, and went 
out of the city. He found a quiet place, with no houses 
or people near, and there for hours he prayed to his 
Father. In the morning he was missed, and Simon 
Peter, with the others, went out to look for him. They 
found him and said to him, "Master, come back to the 
city, for everybody is looking for you!" 

But Jesus said, "I was sent not only to your city 
but to other places also. Let us go out and visit the 
towns that are near. It was for this purpose that I 
have been sent by my Father, to preach everywhere the 
good news of the Kingdom of God." 



L56 



GTfje Heper anb tfje $ateteb jfKan 

CHAPTER 25 

FROM THE city of Capernaum Jesus went forth 
and visited all the villages on the western shore of 
the Sea of Galilee and on the mountains near by. 
He took with him his disciples or followers, that they 
might see his works and listen to his words. Great 
crowds of people came to hear him during this journey; 
and everywhere he cured all kinds of sickness and cast 
out of men evil spirits that were ruling them. 

At one place a man came to Jesus who was covered 
with a dreadful disease called leprosy and was called 
"a leper." No one ever touched a leper or even came 
near him, for they feared that a touch might cause the 
disease. A leper was driven out of the home, to live with 
other lepers in a camp outside the city. When he saw 
anyone coming near, he must stand at a distance, must 
cover his mouth with his garment, not to let his breath 
reach anybody, and must call out, " Unclean! Unclean!" 
so that no one might take his disease. Many lepers were 
in the land when Jesus was preaching; and lepers may 
still be seen in that country. 

This leper who saw Jesus came as near to him as he 
dared. He knelt down before Jesus, touching his head 
to the ground, and called out to him: 

"Oh, sir, if you choose to do it, you can take away 
my leprosy, and make my flesh pure and clean." 

Jesus was not afraid to touch the leper. He went 
to him and placed his hand upon him. Then he said: 

"I do choose; be clean!" 

And at once all this man's leprosy passed way. His 

157 



®f)e leper anb tfje $ateieb JHan 

skin lost its waxen, deadly whiteness, his eyes were 
bright, his deformed hands became' perfect and his voice 
was no longer hollow and cracked. He was no more a 
leper, but was a man in perfect health. 

Jesus said to him, "Do not tell anyone of your cure; 
but go to the priest in the temple, let him see that you 
are clean, and make the offering of thanksgiving to God. 
Let the priest give you a writing to show that you are 
well, and then go to } r our own home." 

Jesus knew that if this man should tell very many 
of his cure, there would come such a crowd of people 
having diseases of all kinds, seeking to be made well, 
that he could have no time nor chance to preach the 
gospel, and his great purpose was, not to cure diseases, 
but to teach men the way to God. It is better to be 
saved from sin than to be cured of sickness. 

But this man was so happy at being made well that 
he could not be still. Everywhere he went he told 
people of his wonderful cure, and roused such a desire 
among the people to see Jesus that Jesus could not go 
to the cities, for so great were the crowds that he could 
no longer preach. Everybody was eager to be cured of 
some illness or to see Jesus cure others. Jesus was 
driven to seek the open country, where few people 
lived, and even there the crowds sought him, coming 
from many places. 

After some time, Jesus came again to Capernaum, 
which was now his home. As soon as the people heard 
of his return, they gathered in great crowds to see him, 
to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. He stood 
on the porch of a house, where every room was full of 
people, and a company was in front of him, crowding 
the court of the house to its utmost corner. In this 
throng were some who were ready to believe in Jesus; 
but there were also some men who had come from Judea 
158 




They broke open the roof and let the man down, wrapped in a blanket and lying 
upon a mattress, right in front of Jesus. 



15!) 



{Efje Heper anb ttje $alsiieb jfflan 

to see who Jesus was, what he was teaching and what he 
was doing. These men did not believe in Jesus, but 
were there to find some fault with him. They belonged 
to a class called "the Pharisees," who claimed to be 
better than others, because they carefully kept all the 
rules of the Jewish law; but in their hearts they were 
far from good, and the}' were bitterly opposed to Jesus. 
While Jesus was speaking, four men came, carrying 
on a bed a man who was sick with the palsy, a disease 
which makes one helpless, unable to use his hands, to 
walk or to stand alone. They were very eager to bring 
this man to Jesus to be cured, but on account of the 
crowd they could not come into the house or even into 
the yard in front of it. They were bound, however, in 
some way to get this palsied man to Jesus. They 
climbed up to the roof of the house and pulled the sick 
man up. Then they broke open the roof, never mind- 
ing the dust and litter that fell upon the heads of the 
people below. When they had made an opening large 
enough, they let the man down, wrapped in a blanket 
and lying upon a mattress, right in front of Jesus. All 
this showed their faith in Jesus. They believed that he 
could cure the palsied man, and were ready to take any 
trouble to bring him before the Saviour. 

Jesus looked at the man, and said to him: 
"My son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven!" 
Some of these Pharisees, the enemies of Jesus, were 
sitting near, and as they heard these words they thought 
in their own minds, though they did not speak it aloud: 
'What wicked words are these! This man speaks 
as though he were God! No man has the right to for- 
give sins; that belongs to God alone. What wickedness, 
for this man to pretend to have God's power!" 

Jesus knew their thoughts, for he could look into 
their hearts. He said to them: 

Kill 




The leper knelt down before Jesus and called out to him: "Oh, sir, if y< 
choose you can make my flesh pure and clean." 



Wfje Hepr anb ttje $ateteb Jlan 

"Why do you think wicked things in your hearts? 
Which is the easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven/ or 
to say, 'Rise up and walk'? But I will show you that 
while I am on earth as the Son of Man, God has given 
me the power to take away sin." 

Then he turned to the palsied man lying on the 
couch, and said with a voice of power: 

"I tell you, rise up, take up your bed, and go to 
your house!" 

In an instant a new life came to the palsied man. 
He stood upon his feet in full strength, rolled up his 
blanket, took up the mattress upon which he had been 
lying, placed it upon his shoulder and walked out through 
the crowd, which opened to make a way for him. Through 
the streets the man went to his home, praising God for 
his cure. 

By this act of healing Jesus had shown that he was 
the Son of God, with the right to forgive the sins of men. 
These Pharisees, the enemies of Jesus, could find nothing 
to say, but in their hearts they hated him more than 
before, for they saw that the people believed on Jesus. 
Wonder filled the minds of those who saw this cure; 
they praised the God of Israel and said to each other, 
"We have seen strange things today!" 



161 




Jesus looked at Levi-Matthew and said to him: "( ome, foliow me!' 
Matthew rose and went after Jesus. 



102 



?|oto tfje ®ax=CoIIector pecame a 



CHAPTER 26 

SO GREAT were the crowds gathering from all parts 
of the land to see and hear Jesus, that no place could 
be found in the city of Capernaum large enough to 
hold the multitudes. The church was far too small; 
and there were no open places in the city where so great 
a company could meet. So every day Jesus went out 
of the city to the seaside, sometimes sitting in Peter's 
boat, sometimes upon the shore, while all the people 
stood upon the grass-covered hillside, with the blue sky 
above them and the blue lake before them, while Jesus 
spoke about the Kingdom of God and showed how every 
man could enter into the kingdom by turning from his 
sins and doing God's will. 

Among these crowds of people Jesus noticed one man 
standing, who listened closely to every word. This man 
was named Levi-Matthew. He was an officer of the 
government, called "a. publican"; and it was his work to 
gather the taxes which the Roman rulers had laid upon 
the people. Everybody was called upon to pay money 
to the Romans, who were the rulers of the land. The 
people hated the Romans, who held the land under their 
power, and hated also these tax-gatherers, who were 
often selfish and unjust men, making the people pay 
more than they should, robbing the poor and taking 
much of the money for themselves instead of paying it 
to the Roman treasury. Because many of these tax- 
gatherers or publicans were cruel and selfish, all of them 

163 



$oto tjje Cax=Collector became a ©tectple 

were looked upon as wicked. They were called "publi- 
cans and sinners," and the people despised them. 

One day Jesus was passing the office where Levi- 
Matthew sat at his table receiving the tax-money from 
the people. Jesus looked at the publican and said to 
him, "Come, follow me!'' At once Levi-Matthew rose 
up, left his clerks and helpers to care for the money on 
the table, and went after Jesus. From that hour he was 
no longer a tax-collector; he became a disciple of Jesus, 
and followed him wherever he went, listening to his 
words and keeping them in his mind and memory. 
Many years afterward, when Jesus was no longer among 
men, Matthew wrote a book telling of what Jesus said 
and did. That book is the Gospel according to Matthew, 
the first book in the New Testament; and it tells what 
Matthew remembered of the teachings and acts of the 
Lord Jesus. So it was well for the people who lived after 
the time of Jesus, and for all the people who through the 
ages since have read that gospel, and for the millions all 
over the world who now read it, that Matthew the tax- 
gatherer became a disciple of Jesus. But for this man's 
prompt obedience to Christ's call on that day, that 
precious book would never have been written. 

Matthew wished his fellow-publicans to meet Jesus 
and hear his words. He gave a supper at his house to 
Jesus, and invited all the publicans or tax-gatherers in 
that part of the country to come. Many of them came, 
and with their friends sat down to the supper with Jesus. 
The Pharisees, who were enemies of Jesus, looked scorn- 
fully at Jesus sitting at the table with all the tax-gatherers 
around him. They said to the disciples of Jesus: 

"Why does your Teacher eat with those publicans 
and si unci s?" 

They told .Jesus of these words, and he answered: 

" Those who are well and strong have no need of a 

Kit 



J|oto tfje Cax=CoIIector ^Became a Btectple 

doctor, but only those who are sick. I did not come to 
call those who think themselves good, but those who 
know that they are sinful and want to be saved. But let 
those Pharisees learn the meaning of the text where God 
says, 'I prefer those who show kindness and mercy, to 
those who offer sacrifices upon the altar.' ' 

This pointed to the Pharisees themselves, for while 
they were careful about fasting and saying their prayers 
and making their offerings in the Temple, they were 
often unjust and hard toward the poor. 




Mosque LI Aksa, near the ancient Temple 



165 




Jesus saw lying there upon a mat a man who had been helpless and unable to 

walk for almost forty years. He said to him: "Would you 

like to be made well ?" 



166 



€(je Cripple at tfje Patf) 

CHAPTER 27 

THE TIME came for another feast at Jerusalem, and 
as on the year before, Jesus went to attend it. 
We do not know whether his disciples were with 
him on this visit, for in the story as given by John in his 
gospel, they are not mentioned. 

On one Sabbath day, while Jesus was in the city, he 
walked past a public bath not far from the Temple. It 
was a large pool or cistern, where several could bathe at 
once; and beside it were five porches, forming an arched- 
over platform. These porches, when Jesus came to the 
pool, were crowded with people, all suffering with disease. 
Some were blind, some were lame and some had legs or 
arms all withered and palsied. 

At certain times the water in this bath used to bubble 
and rise up; then it would go down again and be quiet. 
The people believed that this bubbling up of the water 
was caused by an angel (whom no one could see) going- 
down and stirring up the pool. They believed, too, that 
at such times when the water bubbled up, any person 
who was ill would be cured by taking a bath in the pool. 
We know that there are many springs whose water will 
cure diseases, and this pool may have been one of these 
health-giving springs. 

Jesus saw lying there upon a mat beside the bath 
one man who had been helpless, unable to walk for 
almost forty years. Jesus who knew all things, knew 
that this man had been ill for a long time. He said to 
him: 

"Would you like to be made well?" 

167 



C&e Cripple at tf)e Patfj 



This man had never seen Jesus before and did not 
know who he was. 

"Sir," lie answered, "there is nobody to put me in 
the bath when the water rises; but while I am trying to 




Pool of Hcthosda from above 

crawl down and get into the water, somebody who can 
walk steps in ahead of me." 

Jesus said: 

"Rise, take up your mat, and walk!" 

The crippled man had never heard words like these; 
but as soon as they were spoken, he felt a new power 
168 



&f)e Cripple at tf)e Patft 



shooting through his body. He stood up for the first 
time in thirty-eight years, picked up his piece of matting, 
rolled it up and put it upon his shoulder. Then he 
started to walk toward his house, carrying his burden. 

You remember that it was on the Sabbath day that 
this took place. The Jews were exceedingly careful in 
keeping the Sabbath. God had said to their fathers 
many years before, " Remember the Sabbath day to keep 
it holy." But the Jews had added to this commandment 
many useless rules. They could not light a fire on that 
day, for that would be working; they could not hold a 
pen, for that would be carrying a load. These little 
rules had not been given by God, but had been made by 
the scribes or teachers of the law. 

Some people saw this man carrying his roll of matting 
through the street. They said to him: 

"Stop! don't 3'ou know this is the Sabbath* day? 
You have no right to be carrying your bed." 

The man did not lay down his load. He said, "A 
man saw me helpless by the pool, for I was nearly forty 
years a cripple. This man made me well; and he it 
was who said to me, "Take up your mat and walk.' " 

"Who was this man," said the Jews, "who told you 
to carry your bed on the Sabbath day?" 

The man who had been cured did not know who it 
was that had cured him, for many were standing near, 
and after healing the man Jesus had walked away without 
being noticed. Soon after, the man went up to the 
Temple to give thanks to God for his cure, and there he 
met his healer and learned for the first time his name. 
Jesus said to him at that time: 

"You arc now free from the disease which for so 
many yeai e has made you helpless. Do not sin any more 
against God, or something worse will come to you." 

The man went away and told the Jews that it was 

169 



€i)z Cripple at tfje Jgatf) 



Jesus who had cured him. The leaders among the Jews, 
the priests, the scribes and the Pharisees, were very angry 
at Jesus, because he had made this man well on the 
Sabbath and because he had told the man to carry his 
mat on that day. The rulers tried to stir up the people 
against Jesus, saj-ing that he was a Sabbath-breaker, and 
nobody should listen to his words. 

But Jesus said to them, "My Father works on all 
days doing good to men; and I do only what he does." 

He meant to show them that God sends his sunshine 
and his rain every day in the week, causing the grass and 
the grain and the flowers to grow as much on the Sabbath 
as on other days; and that it was right for him and for 
every man to do good works, helping men and curing 
their sickness, on the Sabbath day. 

But his words only made the Jews all the more 
angry, because he had spoken of God as his Father, 
making himself (they said) equal with God. They would 
have killed him if they could, so great was their hate 
against him. 

Jesus did not stay long in Jerusalem at this visit. 
Soon after the feast he went again to his home at Caper- 
naum. 



170 



Cije Xorb of tfje g>abt>atf) 

CHAPTER 28 

THE QUESTION whether Jesus was a Sabbath- 
breaker or not, arose again soon after he came back 
to Galilee. On a Sabbath day Jesus was walking 
with his disciples through the fields of grain. Some of 
the disciples were hungry, and as they walked picked the 
heads of the wheat, rubbed them in their hands, blew 
away the chaff and ate the kernels of grain. The law of 
the Israelites allowed anyone walking by a field of grain 
to help himself to all that he wished to eat, but forbade 
him to take any to his home. 

But to the Pharisees, who were very exact in their 
rules of keeping the Sabbath, to pluck the grain was the 
same as reaping it with a sickle, to carry it in the hand 
was the same as bearing a load, and to rub it in the hands 
was the same as thrashing; and to do these on the seventh 
day of the week was breaking the Sabbath. These were 
rules, not given by God, but made by the scribes; and 
Jesus had already taught his disciples to pay no attention 
to them. 

The Pharisees were constantly watching Jesus and 
his followers, to catch them, if possible, in doing or saying 
something that might be thought wrong. They said to 
Jesus: 

"Do you see that your disciples are doing what is 
forbidden on the Sabbath day; picking the ears of grain, 
carrying handfuls of them and rubbing them in their 
hands?" 

"Have you never read," answered Jesus, "what 
David did when he was flying from King Saul; how he 

171 



Z\)t lorb of tfjc g>abhatf) 



went into the house of God and took away the holy 
bread, laid on the table as an offering to God, which was 
to be eaten by the priests only; ate it himself and gave 
it to the men that Mere with him? And do you not know 
that the priests in the Temple do all kinds of work, 
killing animals for the offering, placing wood on the altar 
and many other things; yet they do right, for these 
things are necessary, and whatever is needful may be 
done on God's holy day. The Sabbath was made for 




Jesus and His Disciples in the field of grain 

the good of man and not man for the Sabbath. I tell 
you that One greater than the Temple is here, for the 
Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." 

On another Sabbath day Jesus went into the church 
to worship ( rod and to preach the word. A man was there 
whose hand was withered and helpless. The Pharisees 
watched Jesus to see if he would cure this man on the 
Sabbath. They hoped he would cure him, not because 
they cared for the poor, crippled man, but because 
172 



®f)e Xorb of tfie g>abbatf) 



they were eager to find something to say against 
Jesus. 

Jesus spoke to the man with the withered hand, 
" Stand up and come forward." The man stood up before 
them all; and then Jesus, looking straight at his enemies, 
said: 

"Is it against 
the law on the 
Sabbath day to do 
good or to do harm; 
to save a life, or to 
try to kill a man, as 
you are trying to 
do? If one of you 
men owns a single 
sheep, and he should 
happen on the Sab- 
bath day to find it 
fallen into a pit, 
would he not take 
hold of it and lift it 
out? And how 
much more is a man 
worth than a sheep? 
Thus it is right to 
do a kind and help- 




on 



the The man with the withered hand healed by Jesus 
in the church 



ful act 
Sabbath.' 

He looked around sternly at his enemies, being sad 
and grieved because their hearts were so hard. They 
did not have a word to say; and after waiting a moment 
he turned to the man with the withered hand and said: 

" Stretch out your hand!" 

He reached out his arm, and the withered hand was 
at once made well and strong, as sound as the other. 

173 



Z\)t Horb of tfje ^>abbatf) 



Jesus wont away, but the Pharisees were filled with anger 
against him. They talked together, seeking some way 
to kill Jesus; and they called upon the friends of King 
Herod, the ruler of Galilee, to sec if they could not per- 
suade the king to order that Jesus should be put to death. 
But Jesus went on teaching and curing those that 
were sick, paying no attention to the plans of his enemies. 
He told those whom he cured, not to go out and speak 
to others about him, but to stay quietly at home; for the 
crowds coming to hear him were already great, and he 
did not wish them to be any greater. So many people 
came together from all parts of the land, and even from 
places outside the land of Israel, from the country of 
Tyre and Sidon on the north and from Edom or Idumea 
on the south. They thronged around Jesus, and pressed 
upon him; so that he spoke to his disciples to have a 
little boat at hand, to wait upon him, and take him out 
into the lake for quiet and rest. 



174 



Jfosus on tfje iHountam 

CHAPTER 29 

ABOUT TWELVE miles southwest from Capernaum 
ZA and six miles west of the Sea of Galilee stands a 
mountain which can be seen many miles away. 
It is now called "Kurn Hattin," which means, "The 
double horns of Hattin." The name is given because 
the mountain has two tops, one at each end, and a wide 
hollow between them, its form making it look somewhat 
like a saddle or a camel with two humps. Near this 
mountain, roads ran to almost every part of the land 
of Israel, so that from every place it could be reached. 

The word went throughout the land that Jesus was 
coming to this mountain; and a great multitude of 
people gathered in the hollow place between its two 
crowns, all waiting to see Jesus. He came to the mountain 
and went up alone to one of its hill-tops. All night Jesus 
was there in prayer with his heavenly Father; for he 
had an important work to do, and before any great work 
Jesus prayed to God. In the morning he called forth out 
of the vast company of people before him twelve men, 
who were to be with him all the time, go with him wher- 
ever he should go, listen to his teachings, and learn them 
by heart, and be ready to preach his words when he should 
send them out. These twelve men Jesus afterward 
called "apostles," which means "men sent out"; but 
they were generally named "the twelve." They are also 
spoken of as "the disciples," although the word "dis- 
ciples" is also used of all the followers of Jesus. 

Most of the twelve men had been called before, 
and had been for some time with Jesus. Others were 

175 



3ftsu& on tfje Jflountatn 



new men whom Jesus called now for the first time. 
Their names are arranged in pairs, two of them together. 
They were Simon Peter and Andrew his brother; James 
and John, the sons of Zebedee; Philip and his friend 
Bartholomew, also called Nathanael; Thomas and Mat- 
thew, who had 
been the tax- 
gatherer; James 
the son of Alph- 
aeus; another 
Simon, who was 
called a the Zeal- 
ot," and Judas 
Iscariot, the one 
who afterward 
became the trai- 
tor and sold his 
Lord to his ene- 
mies. About 
most of these 
men we know 
very little, but 
some of them in 
later years did a 
great work for 
the church of 
Christ. Simon 
Peter was always 
a leader among 
the Twelve, being a man of quick mind and ready words; 
and John long after that time wrote " The Gospel according 
to John," one of the most wonderful books in the world. 
In the sight of all the people Jesus called these men 
to stand by his side. Then he came down from the 
mountain-top to the hollow place between the two sum- 
17G 




Kurn Hattin, where Jesus preached the Sermon 
on the Mount 




In the morning he called forth out of the vast company of people 
before him twelve men. 



3Tesiu£ on tfje jfflountatn 



mits. He sat down, with his twelve chosen men around 
him, and beyond this a great crowd of people. To the 
Twelve and to the listening multitude Jesus preached 
that great sermon which is called "The Sermon on 
the Mount." Matthew wrote it down, and you can read 
it in his gospel, the first book of the New Testament, 
in the fifth, sixth and seventh chapters. How fortunate 
it was that Jesus called the tax-gatherer to be one of his 
disciples, a man who could remember and write this great 
sermon for all the world to read! We give here only a 
few parts from this Sermon on the Mount. Jesus began 
with words of comfort to his followers : 

" Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the 
kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn; for 
they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek; for they 
shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they that hunger and 
thirst after righteousness ; for they shall be filled. Blessed 
are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed 
are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. Blessed 
are the peacemakers; for they shall be called sons of God. 
Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteous- 
ness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 

Then he spoke to his disciples of what they were to 
be among men : 

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have 
lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thence- 
forth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden 
under foot of men." 

He went on, perhaps pointing to a town not far 
away, built on the top of a hill and seen everywhere 
around : 

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a 

hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp, and put 

it under a bushel, but on the stand; and it giveth light 

to all the house. Even so let your light shine before 

12 177 



Jesus on tfje ittountain 



men, that they may see your good works and give glory 
to your Father who is in heaven." 

He told his disciples how they should feel and act 
toward those who had done wrong to them: 

"Ye have heard that it was said, 'You shall love 
your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' But I say to } r ou, 
love your enemies, and pray for those who do you wrong, 
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven: for he 
makes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and 
sends rain alike on the just and on the unjust. For if 
you love only those who love you, what reward do you 
have? Why, the tax-gatherers whom you despise do as 
much. And if you speak only to your friends, wherein 
are you better than others? For even the Gentiles do the 
same. You should be perfect, as your heavenly Father is 
perfect," 

He spoke also of the aims which men should seek in 
their lives: 

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, 
where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break 
through and steal; but la} r up for yourselves treasures 
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and 
where thieves do not break through nor steal; for where 
your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will 
hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to 
one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and 
Mammon, who is the god worshipped by this world. 
Therefore I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, 
what ye shall eat or what } r e shall drink; nor for your 
body, what you shall put on. Surely, life means more than 
food, surely the body means more than clothes! Look 
at the birds flying above you; they do not sow, nor reap, 
nor gather into bains; and your heavenly Father feeds 
them. Are you not worth more than the birds? 
178 



3fe£u£ on tije jWotmtam 



"And why should you be anxious about your cloth- 
ing? Look how the lilies of the field grow: they neither 
toil nor spin, and yet Solomon in all his glory was never 
robed like one of these! Now, if God so clothes the grass 
of the fields, which blooms today, and tomorrow is thrown 
into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, you who 
trust God so little?" 

" Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall 
we have to eat?' or 'what shall we have to drink?' or 
' how can we get clothes to wear?' Your heavenly Father 
knows that you need all these things. Seek the kingdom 
of God, and do right according to his will : then all these 
things will be 3 r ours. Do not be anxious about tomorrow, 
for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own 
trouble is enough to be anxious over." 

Here is what Jesus said as the ending of his sermon: 

" Everyone who hears these words of mine, and acts 
upon them, is like a wise man, who built his house upon 
rock. The rain fell, the floods rose, the winds blew and 
beat upon that house, but it did not fall, for it was 
founded upon rock. 

" And every one that hears these words of mine, and 
does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who 
built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods rose, 
the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell, 
and great was its fall." 

When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds 
were filled with wonder at his way of teaching. He spoke 
with the authority of a Master, unlike their own scribes. 
Most of the scribes when they were teaching would speak 
in the name of earlier teachers, and say, " Rabbi Jonathan 
said this," or " Rabbi Hillel said that." But Jesus spoke 
in his own name, saying, "I say this to you." 



179 




Jesus receives the message from the army captain: "Lord, do not trouble 
yourself to come to my house, for I am not worthy to have one so great under 
my roof; but only speak a word where you are, and my servant shall be 
healed." 



180 



W$t <§oob &rmp Captain 

CHAPTER 30 

AT CAPERNAUM there was an officer of the Roman 
army, a captain, having under him a company of 
one hundred men. This man was not of the 
Jewish people, but a Gentile, which was the name that 
the Jews gave to all people outside, of their own race. 
All the world, except themselves, the Jews called Gentiles. 

This army captain was a good man, and he was very 
friendly to the Jews, because through them he had heard 
of the true God, and had learned to worship him. Out of 
his love for the Jews he had built for them with his own 
money a church, and had given it to them. This may 
have been the very church in which Jesus taught on the 
Sabbath days. 

The army captain had a young servant, a boy whom 
lie loved greatly; and this boy was very sick with the 
palsy and near to death. The army captain had heard 
that Jesus could cure those who were sick; and he asked 
tin' chief men of the church, who were called its " elders," 
to go to Jesus and ask him to come to the captain's 
house, that he might lay his hands on the boy and make 
him well. The ciders spoke to Jesus soon after he came 
again to Capernaum, after preaching on the mountain. 
They asked him to go with them to the captain's house 
and cure his servant, and they added: 

"He is a worthy man, and it is fitting that you should 
help him, for though a Gentile, he loves our people, and 
he has built for us our church." 

Then Jesus said, "I will go and cure him." 

But while Jesus was on his way to the captain's 

181 



Cfje <§oob 9rmp Captain 



house, and with him the ciders and a company of people, 
who hoped to see anothei wonderful cure, he was met by 
some friends of the captain, who brought this message: 

"Lord, do not take the trouble to come to my house: 
for I am not worthy to have one so great as you are under 
my roof; and I sent to you, because I am not worthy 
to speak to you myself. But speak only a word where 
you arc, and my servant shall be made well. For although 
I am myself a man under authority and rule, I have sol- 
diers under me to carry out my will. I say to one man 
'Go,' and he goes; I say to another man 'Come/ and he 
comes. I tell my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it. 
You, too, have power to command and be obeyed. 
Only speak the word and my servant shall be cured." 

When Jesus heard this he wondered at this man's 
faith. He turned to the crowd that followed and said: 

"In truth I say to you all, I have not found such 
faith as this in all Israel. And I tell you further, that 
many like this man, who are not Israelites, shall come 
from places in the east and the west, and shall sit down 
with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of 
God. But many of those who are the children of Israel, 
because they have not believed, shall never enter into 
( rod's kingdom, but shall be thrust forth into the darkness 
outside." 

And Jesus said to those who came from the captain's 
house: 

"Go back and say to this man in my name, 'As you 
have believed, even so shall it be done to you.' ' 

They went to the captain's house, and found his 
servant, who had been at the point of death, now free 
from his palsy and brought back to perfect health. 



1S2 



i>oto fesius; ^toppeb a Jfuneral 

CHAPTER 31 

JESUS WENT on a journey for preaching through 
the southern parts of Galilee, as before he had 
visited the villages among the mountains near the 
sea. He walked out of Capernaum with the twelve 
disciples and a crowd of followers which grew larger as 
he went on. They passed by Mount Tabor, and just 
before sunset they came to a small city at the foot of 
another mountain, the Hill Moreh. This place was named 
Nain. Outside the gate Jesus and his followers paused 
to allow a funeral procession to pass by. In front were 
women wailing aloud, flinging their arms up and down 
and chanting a song about the young man who had died. 
The body was wrapped in long strips of linen, and was 
lying upon a couch, carried by bearers. After it walked 
an old woman, the young man's mother, who was a 
widow, burying her only son; and with her were many of 
the people in the city, showing their sorrow for the widow 
at the loss of her son. 

When Jesus saw this weeping mother, he felt a great 
pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." He 
stepped forward and touched the couch on which the 
body was lying. The men who were carrying it stood 
still with wonder at the coming of this stranger, whose 
look showed power. Standing beside the dead young 
man, he said: 

" Young man, I say unto you, Rise up! 

Instantly the young man sat up and began to speak. 
Jesus took him by the hand and gave him to his mother. 
She received him into her arms, and found his cold bod}' 

183 



Hoto Jcsuss ^>toppeb a Jfuneral 



now warm with life, the dull eyes now bright. Her son 
that had died that day was alive once more. 

The people who were looking on now felt that indeed 
a marvelous work had been done. Many of them had 
seen Jesus before, and knew him ; and even those who had 




Ruins of Nain, near which Jesus restored to life the widow's son 

not seen him had heard of him, and said, "This must be 
that great teacher from Nazareth!" Many fell on their 
faces before him; and some said, "A great prophet has 
come among us," and others said, " Surely God has 
visited his people!" 

The news that Jesus had raised a dead man to life 
184 



J|oto 3 esti* ^>toppeb a Jftmeral 

spread through all the land and even to the countries 
around. More and more people after this sought to see 
Jesus and to hear his words. 

While Jesus was slowly journeying through southern 
Galilee, visiting the towns, teaching the people and curing 
the sick, two men came asking to see him. These men 
were followers of John the Baptist, who was still in the 
prison where Herod had sent him. In his prison John 
heard of the works that Jesus was doing and of the teach- 
ing that Jesus was giving. It may be that John was 
expecting Jesus to set up his kingdom at once, instead of 
merety going up and down the land as a teacher. Per- 
haps also, John, shut up in prison, had grown discouraged 
and doubtful. In other days he had said to all the people 
that Jesus was the Coming King, so high above him that 
he was not worthy to tie his shoestrings. But now these 
two men had brought from John this question to Jesus: 

" John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask — are you 
the Coming One, the promised King of Israel? Or are 
we to look for another?" 

Jesus did not at once answer this question. He acted 
for a time as though it had not been asked, and left these 
two men standing, while he turned to the people about 
him. 

At the Saviour's feet were many suffering people — 
the sick brought upon couches by their friends, the blind 
ciying for sight, the deaf and dumb holding out their 
hands toward him, the lepers with all their horrible 
sores, the wild people in whom were evil spirits. Jesus 
attended to the needs of all these sufferers. He laid his 
hands upon the sick, and they rose up well; he touched 
the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf, and gave 
them their sight and hearing; he gave each leper a new, 
pure, perfect body; and he cast out the evil spirits by 
his words. Then he went on and made his usual talk 

185 




Standing beside the dead young man, Jesus said: "Young man, I say unto you, 
rise up!" Instantly he sat up and began to speak. 



ISC, 



?|oto 3ft&u& g>toppeb a Jftmeral 

to the crowds about the Kingdom of God, and how any 
man might come into it. 

When at last his morning's work of healing and teach- 
ing was over, he turned to these two message-bearers 
from John the Baptist, and said to them: 

"Go back and tell John in his prison what you have 
seen and heard. Here are men once blind who now can 
see; lame men who now can walk; leprous men who have 
been made clean; deaf men made to hear; men having 
in them evil spirits, who are now free from their power. 
You have heard too of dead men raised to life; and you 
have listened while the gospel has been preached to the 
poor. You go and tell John all these things that you have 
seen and heard. Then let John think about these things 
and judge whether I am not the One whom he promised 
should come." 

That was a far better way to bring John the Baptist 
back to believing fully in Jesus as the promised King of 
Israel and the Saviour of the world than to send the 
answer back, "Go and tell John that I am the Saviour." 
For John's faith would be the stronger, because he would 
now have the proofs that Jesus was the promised Lord. 

After these messengers from John the Baptist had 
Left , Jesus began to talk to the people about John. Some 
may have thought that in sending this question to Jesus, 
John had showed weakness and a change of his mind. 
Jesus said to the people: 

"What was it that you went out to the desert to see? 
Was it a reed swayed to and fro by the wind? No, this 
man John was no weak, wind-shaken reed. Did you go 
out to look at a man clothed in the robes of a prince, and 
eating delicate food? No, that skin-clad man in the 
desert was no such princely person. To see such people 
you go to the palaces of kings. Come, what did you 
go out to see? Was it a prophet, a man sent from God? 

187 



J|oto Jesu* £>toppeb a Jfuneral 



Yes, I tell you, John the Baptist was indeed a prophet, 
and more than a prophet. He was the King's messenger, 
to prepare the way for the King himself. Of a truth, 
I tell you all that no greater man was ever born into this 
world than John the Baptist. - And yet he that is least 
in the Kingdom of God is higher even than John." 

Jesus meant that those who could come into the 
Kingdom of God, as those who heard the gospel might 
come, were higher than even the greatest of those who 
prepare the way for the Kingdom. 




The Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem 



188 



Cfje Sinful TOoman Jforgtben 

CHAPTER 32 

WHILE JESUS was passing through southern 
Galilee, in one place a Pharisee named Simon 
invited him to his house for dinner. The 
Pharisees, } r ou remember, were people who were supposed 
to be very religious, because they carefully followed all 
the rules about praying at regular hours every day, 
whether on the street or in their homes; fasting, or not 
taking food, on certain days; going to church three times 
every week, and doing many things to be seen by others, 
while they were often sharp and hard in their dealings 
with men. They seemed to be good, but often were not 
as good as they seemed. Everywhere the Pharisees were 
at heart enemies of Jesus. They watched him, but in 
no friendly spirit. 

This Pharisee, Simon, wished to know Jesus and to 
talk with him, although he did not believe in him. But 
he felt that Jesus, being only a common carpenter who 
had turned Rabbi, or teacher, was below himself in rank; 
and he did not treat him with respect. When a great 
man came to the house, the servants took off his sandals 
and washed his feet; they dressed his hair and poured 
fragrant oil upon his head. None of these tilings had 
Simon done to Jesus. He merely invited him to his 
house, and without even giving him water to wash his 
feet, all dusty with walking, he pointed him to his place 
at the table. 

In that land people did not sit down upon chairs at 
dinner. Around the table were placed couches or lounges, 
and on these the guests reclined, half lying and half 

189 



Z\}t Sinful Ionian Jforgtben 



sitting, their heads toward the table and their feet away 
from it. The}' could reach the table and help themselves 
to food or drink. Very little meat was eaten; and before 
being placed upon the table, it was always cut into small 
pieces, so that the guests needed no knives or forks. 
After each course of the meal, a servant passed around a 
bowl of water and a towel, and washed the hands of the 
guests. 

While Jesus, and perhaps his disciples with him, 
were at the table during the dinner, people were coming 
in and going out freely. Soon a woman came in, looked 
around, saw Jesus, and went toward the couch whereon 
he was lying. In her hand was a jar of fragrant oil. 
She broke the jar, not waiting to take out the stopple, 
and poured the oil upon his feet. She wiped his feet 
with her long flowing hair; she wept over them, dropping 
her many tears upon his feet; and she kissed them over 
and over again. 

All the people of that place knew who this woman 
was, and knew the life that she had lived. She had not 
been a good woman, but had been wicked, and was 
despised by all respectable people. Simon the Pharisee 
wondered that Jesus should allow such a woman to touch 
him. He thought within himself, though he did not say 
it aloud: 

''This man cannot be a prophet, as they say he is; 
for if he were a prophet he would know what a vile crea- 
ture this woman is, and he would not permit her hands 
to touch even his feet." 

Jesus read the thoughts of the Pharisee, for he could 
look down into his mind. He said, " Simon, I have 
something to say to you." 

"Well, Teacher," answered Simon, "say it." 

Then Jesus said, "There was a lender of money, to 
whom two persons owed a debt. One owed him five 
190 




She poured fragrant oil upon his feet and wiped them with her long flowing 

hair. And Jesus said to Simon: "As many as her sins have been, 

they are forgiven, for her love is great." 



Wfje Sinful Woman jforgtoett 



hundred pieces of silver and the other owed him fifty. 
Neither of these two men could pay his debt; and so the 
money lender let them both go free. Tell me now, Simon, 
which of those two men will love this man the most?" 

"I suppose," answered Simon, "the man who had 
the most forgiven." 

" You are right," said Jesus. Then he turned toward 
the woman, and went on, still speaking to Simon. "Do 
you see this woman? When I came into your house, you 
never even gave me water for my feet; but see, she has 
wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them dry with her 
hair. You never gave me a kiss of welcome; but this 
woman ever since she came in has been pressing kisses 
upon my feet. You never anointed my head with oil; 
but she has poured perfume over my feet. Therefore I 
tell you, Simon, that many as her sins have been, they are 
forgiven, for her love is great; while he to whom little is 
forgiven loves only a little." 

Then he spoke to the woman, "Your sins are for-i 
given." f 

Those at the table began to whisper to one another, 
"Who is this that claims the right to forgive sins?" 

But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; 
go in peace." 

After this he went on visiting the villages and telling 
the people the good news of the Kingdom of God. With 
him were his twelve chosen disciples. Besides these men 
were some women whom Jesus had cured of different 
diseases. One was Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus 
had cast out no less than seven evil spirits. Another was 
Joanna, the wife of a nobleman named Chuza, who was 
a high officer in the court of King Herod Antipas, the 
ruler of Galilee. Another was named Susanna; and 
with these were a number of other women. Some of these 
were rich, and gave freely of their money to help Jesus. 

l'.n 



fesus anb ^tg Cnemtes 

CHAPTER 33 

AFTER HIS journey through southern Galilee, which 
J-\ was the second of his preaching journeys in the 
land, Jesus came again to Capernaum. With him 
came a great multitude of people who had listened to 
him and longed to hear more of his words. For every 
one who met Jesus was drawn to him in love and desired 
to be with him. Nearly all who heard him loved him, 
but not all. Both the scribes, who were the teachers 
of the people in the law of Moses, and the Pharisees, who 
pret ended to a religion which was false and not real, 
hated Jesus more and more and spoke evil of him to the 
people. They declared that a wicked spirit was in him, 
and that his power to work wonders came from Satan, 
the evil one. 

One day there was brought to Jesus a man in whom 
was an evil spirit; and the spirit had taken away both his 
sight and his hearing, so that he could neither see, nor 
hear, nor speak. Jesus spoke to the evil spirit in the man, 
saying: 

"Come out of this man, O wicked spirit, and never 
enter into him again!" 

The evil spirit left the man's body, and for a moment 
he lay on the ground as though he were dead. But soon 
he rose up, entirely well and able to see, to hear and to 
speak. AH those who saw this cure were filled with 
wonder, and many said, "Is not this the Son of David, 
whom the prophets promised should come and be our 
King?" 

But when the Pharisees and scribes heard of this 
192 



Sftxvti anb yfyix CnemieS 



wonder, they said, "This fellow casts out the evil spirits 
because the chief of all the evil spirits is in him and 
gives him this power." 

Jesus knew their thoughts, and he said: 

"Any kingdom that is divided into two sides that 
are fighting each other will soon fall in pieces; and any 
family where people are quarreling will soon come to 
naught. If Satan, the evil one, is casting out evil spirits, 
then Satan's kingdom will soon fall, for it is divided 
against itself. But if by the power of God I cast out the 
bad spirits from men, then you may be sure that God is 
among you." 

But this report that Jesus was possessed by evil 
spirits went abroad among the people, and some believed 
it. It came to the brothers of Jesus, who at that time 
did not fully believe in him; and it came to Mary his 
mother, filling her with alarm. She feared that her Son, 
working without any rest, and bearing such heavy 
loads of care, had lost his mind. Some said that the 
family of Jesus should take him home and not allow 
him to disturb the people, for they said, "He is beside 
himself!" 

Mary and her sons came to the house where Jesus 
was talking to the people and curing the sick. So great 
was the crowd around the door that they could not get 
into the house, and they sent word inside that the mother 
of Jesus and his brothers were out in the street and wished 
to speak with him. They told Jesus: 

"Your mother and your brothers are outside and 
they wish to speak with you." 

But he answered the man who told him, "Who is 
my mother, and who are my brothers?" 

He turned to his disciples, stretched out his hands, 
;u id said: 

"Here arc my mother and my brothers! Whoever 
13 193 



Jesus anb ?^tss Enemies; 



will do the will of my Father in heaven, that one is my 
brother, and my sister and my mother!" 

Jesus meant by this that dear as his mother was to 
him, those who were ready to follow his teachings were 
dearer still. 

Some of the scribes and Pharisees spoke to Jesus, 
saying: 

" Teacher, show us some sign that you have come 
from God." 

The}' wished him to work some miracle, some wonder 
in their sight. But Jesus never would do any of his 
great works merely to be seen. He cured the sick and 
cast out evil spirits out of pit} 7 for people in trouble, but 
not as a show of his power. He said to these people : 

"It is a wicked and unfaithful time when people 
seek for a sign. I will give you no sign now, but after a 
time you shall see a sign, though you will not believe it. 
It will be the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah 
was three days inside the great fish, so I the Son of Alan 
will be three days under the ground, and like Jonah will 
come forth living. 

"The people of Nineveh, to whom Jonah preached, 
will rise up in the day when God shall judge the world, 
and they shall show that they were better than the people 
of this time, for when Jonah preached to them, they 
turned from their sins and sought God. And One greater 
than Jonah is here, yet they will not listen to him! 

"The Queen of Sheba will rise up in the day of 
judgment with the people of this time, and will prove them 
to be unfaithful. For she came from the ends of the 
earth to hear the wise words of Solomon; and one greater 
than Solomon is here, yet you will not listen to him." 



mi 



Wfyt ^>torp=teIIer bp tfje ika 

CHAPTER 34 

SOOX AFTER his journey through southern Galilee, 
Jesus began to teach in a new form, that of telling 
stories to the people. Everybody likes to listen to a 
story, and sometimes a story will go to the heart when the 
plain truth will fail. Story-tellers have always been 
very abundant in the East, where Jesus lived. Even 
today ma} r be found everywhere men who go from place 
to place telling stories, and the people flock around them 
and listen to their stories from morning until night. 

But the stories that Jesus told were very different 
from those of the Eastern story-tellers. His stories were 
told to teach some great truth, and on that account were 
called a parables." A parable is a story which is true 
to life — that is, a story which might be true, not a fairy 
story — and which also has in it some teaching of the 
truth. 

One day Jesus went out of the city of Capernaum 
and stood on the beach by the Sea of Galilee. A great 
crowd of people gathered around him, for all the opposi- 
tion of the scribes and Pharisees could not keep the com- 
mon people away from Jesus. The throng was so great, 
crowding around Jesus, that as before he stepped into a 
boat and told his disciples to push it out a little from the 
shore. Then he sat down in the boat, fronting the great 
multitude that filled the sloping beach. He said to the 
people: 

" Listen! Once a sower went out to sow his seed. 
And as he was scattering the seed, some of it fell on the 
path, where the ground had been trodden hard. The 

195 




'Once a sower went out to sow his seed. Some seed fell on stony ground and 
some fell among briers and bushes." 



L96 



3Tf)e Storyteller bp tfje Sea 



seed lay there on the path until the birds lighted upon 
it and picked up all the kernels, so that none of them grew. 

"Some of the seed fell on places where there was a 
thin covering of earth over stones. There the kernels 
grew up quickly, just because the soil was thin. But 
when the hot weather came, the sun scorched the tender 
plants, and they all withered away, because they had no 
moisture and no root in deep earth. 

" Some other of the seeds fell among briers and bushes, 
and there was no room for the grain to grow up. It 
lived, but it did not bring forth heads of grain, because 
it was crowded and choked by thorn bushes all around it. 
"But there were some other of the seeds that fell into 
ground that was soft and rich and good. There they 
grew up and brought forth fruit abundantly. Some 
kernels gave thirty times as many as were sown, some 
sixty times and some a hundred times." 

Jesus did not tell the people what the teaching of 
the parable was. He only said, "Whoever has ears, let 
him hear .what I have spoken." He meant that they 
should not only listen but think and find out for themselves 
the meaning. 

When Jesus was alone with his disciples, they said 
to him : 

"Why do you speak to the people in parables? 
Wli;ti do you mean to teach in lliis story about the man 
sowing seed?" 

Jesus said to them: 

"To you who have followed me it is given to know 
the deep things of the Kingdom of God, because you 
seek to find them out. But to many these truths are 
spoken in parables, for they hear the story, but do not 
try to find out what it means. They have eyes, but they 
do not see, and ears, but they do not hear. For they do 
not wish to understand with the heart and turn to Clod 

197 



Cfje Storyteller bv tf)e g>ea 



to have their sins forgiven. But blessed are your eyes, 
for the}' see, and your ears, for they hear. Listen now 
to the meaning of the parable of the sower. 

"The sower is the one who speaks the word of God, 
and the seed is the word which he speaks. 

"The seed on the roadside, the trodden path, means 
those who hear, but do not take the truth into their 
hearts. Then the Evil Spirit comes and, like the birds, 
snatches away the truth, so that they forget it. 

"The seeds on the rocky soil are those who hear the 
word and seem to take it gladly into their hearts; but 
they have no root in themselves; just as soon as they 
meet with any discouragement or trouble, or find enemies 
to the truth, they are turned away and their goodness 
does not last. 

"That which is sown among the thorns and briers 
are those who listen to the word, but the worries of life, 
and the desire for mone}^ and the pleasures of the world, 
crowd the word in their hearts, and the gospel does them 
but little good. 

"But the seed sown on the good ground are those 
who listen to the gospel and understand it; who take the 
word into honest and good hearts and keep it and bring 
forth fruit in their lives." 



198 



iHore Stories ®olb bp tfte g>ea 

CHAPTER 35 

HERE IS another parable story that Jesus told to 
the people as he sat in the boat and the people 
stood on the shore. This is the parable of "The 
Wheat and the Weeds." 

" There was a man who sowed good wheat in his 
field; but while people were asleep, an enemy came and 
scattered the seed of weeds over all the ground. Then the 
enemy went away, leaving his seed to grow up. When 
the sprouts of grain began to form into heads of wheat, 
the men saw that everywhere in the field the weeds were 
among them; for weeds always grow faster than good 
seed. 

"So the servants of the farmer came to him and said: 

" 'Did you not, sir, sow good seed in your field? 
How comes it that it is full of weeds?' 

"He said to them, 'Some enemy of mine has done 
this.' 

" 'Shall we go,' said the servants, 'and pull up the 
weeds that are growing with the wheat?' 

"'No,' answered the farmer, 'for while you arc 
1 xilling the weeds, you will root up the wheat with them. 
Lei them both grow together until the harvest; and in 
the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers, "When 
you have cut down all the crop, then take out the weeds 
and put them into bundles to be burned; but gather the 
wheat into my barn."'" 

Jesus gave to the people another parable about 
"The Growing Grain." He said, "The kingdom of 
God is as if a man should throw seed upon the ground. 

199 



jiWore Stories &olb bj> tfje g>ea 

The sower will sleep every night, while the seed will 
spring up, he cannot tell how. The ground bears fruit 
of itself, first the little shoot, then the ear of grain, and 
then the full head of grain. But when the heads of grain 
are ripe, he puts in his sickle and reaps, because the 
harvest is come." 

His next parable was "The Mustard Seed." "The 




Jesus teaching by the Sea of Galilee 



kingdom of heaven," said Jesus, " is like a grain of mustard 
seed which a man took and sowed in Ms field. This is 
the smallest of all seeds; but it grows up to become a 
bush so large that it is like a tree, putting out great 
branches, and the birds light upon them and rest under 
their shadow." 

Jesus gave one more parable, "The Leaven, or Yeast." 
He said, "The kingdom of God is like the leaven or yeast 
that a woman uses when she makes bread. She mixes 

200 




While people were asleep, an enemy came and scattered the seed 
of weeds over all the ground 



201 



ittore Stories QTolb bp tfje £>ea 



up a very little yeast in a large mass of dough, and leaves 
it to rise. Presently all the dough is changed by the 
yeast, and made into good bread. So it is with the truth 
to those who take it into their hearts." 

After Jesus told these five parables, "The Sower," 
"The Wheal and the Weeds/' "The Growing Grain," 
"The Mustard Seed," and "The Leaven," he sent the 
crowd away and went into a house with his disciples. 
When they were alone they said to him, "Tell us what is 
the meaning of the parable of "The Wheat and the 
Weeds." 

Jesus answered them, "He who sows the good seed 
is the Son of Man, whom God has sent into the earth. 
The field is the world. The good wheat are those who 
hear his word and are the children of God. The weeds 
are the children of the wicked one. The enemy that sowed 
them is the devil, Satan. The harvest is the end of the 
world and the reapers are the angels of God. Just as 
the weeds are gathered from among the good grain and 
burned in the fire, so shall it be at the end of the world. 
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather 
out of his kingdom all that do evil and cause harm, and 
shall throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will 
weep and wail and gnash their teeth. But in that day, 
the children of God, the true wheat, shall shine like the 
sun in the kingdom of their heavenly Father." 

Then to his disciples, not to the crowd, Jesus gave 
three more parables. The first was "The Hid Treasure." 
He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a heap of money 
which a man found while he was working in a field. 
He hid it again, and told no one about it; but went home, 
sold all that he had and gladly bought that field, that 
the treasure might be his own." 

The next parable was that of "The Pearl." "There 
was a man who went into many places to find pearls, 
202 



Jfflore Stories ®olb by tfje g>ea 

which he bought to sell to others. In one place he found 
a pearl of great price, far more precious than any that he 
had seen before. He went and sold everything that he 
had, and with the monej r bought that pearl." 

The last of these parables was "The Drag Net." 
"Once more," said Jesus, "the kingdom of heaven is 
like a large net that was cast into the sea and took in 
fishes of every kind, large and small, good and bad. When 
the net was full they drew it to the shore. There thej r 
sat down and took the fishes out, one by one. They 
looked them over and put the good fish, those that were 
fit to be eaten, into baskets, but those that were useless 
they threw away. So will it be at the end of the world. 
The angels will come and will take out the people that are 
wicked from among the good, and shall fling them into 
the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their 
teeth." 

After Jesus had finished telling these parables to his 
disciples, he said to them, "Have you understood all 
these?" 

They said to him, "Yes, we have." 

And he said to them, "Every teacher who has been 
made a learner in the kingdom of God is like a man who 
brings out of his store some things that are new and some 
that are old." 



203 




Jesus looked around, saw the dashing waves and. said just these words: 
"Peace, be still!" 



20-1 



Catling Across tfje g>ea 

CHAPTER 36 

AFTER THE day of teaching in parables, when the 
evening came on, as the crowds were still pressing 
upon Jesus and giving him no time to rest, he said 
to his disciples: 

"Let us sail across the lake to the other side." 
So they made ready the boat and took Jesus on board. 
Some of the people were so eager to be with Jesus that 
they also went into other boats and sailed with him. 
Jesus was very tired after his day of teaching and he 
lay down in the rear end of the boat, resting his head upon 
one of the cushions. In the steady motion of the oars 
and the gentle rippling of the waves, Jesus soon fell 
asleep, while the boat moved onward over the lake. 
Soon the night came and the disciples rowed on in the 
darkness. 

On the Sea of Galilee, storms often arise very sud- 
denly. The water may be perfectly calm for a time and 
t hen in a few minutes lashed into fury by the wind. So 
it came to pass while Jesus was sleeping. A great wind 
arose, the waves rolled high and dashed into the boat; 
but Jesus slept on peacefully. 

At least four of the twelve disciples, and we know 
not how many more, were fishermen. They knew how 
dangerous these sudden storms might be; and as they 
saw the boat filling with water and beginning to sink, 
they were frightened. Coming to Jesus, they awoke 
him, crying out, " Master, Master, we are lost! Help 
us or we shall drown!" 

The storm, with all the noise of creaking sails and 

205 



Catling Scrosss tJje ^>ea 



roaring winds and dashing waves, had not awaked Jesus, 
but the cries of his frightened disciples aroused him from 
his sleep. He looked around, saw the dashing waves 
and said just these words: 

" Peace, be still!" 

At once the wind ceased, the waves smoothed down 
arid there was perfect calm upon the sea. Then Jesus 
spoke to his disciples, saying: 

"Why are you so fearful? Have you so little faith 
in me?" 

They might have known that whether their Master 
was awake or asleep, they were safe if he was with them. 
They wondered at this new proof of Jesus' power, and 
said to each other: 

"Who can this be that can speak to the winds and 
the waves and they obey his words!" 

The}' were sailing from Capernaum in a direction 
southeast, and after rowing about seven miles, they 
came to the eastern shore of the lake, where was a village 
called Gerasa. This region was called "the country of 
the Gadarenes," from a large city, Gadara, not far away. 
It was a part of Decapolis, a name given to all the country 
on the east of the Sea of Galilee. The word Decapolis 
means "The Ten Cities," and because in that land were 
ten large Roman cities, the whole country was called 
"The Country of Ten Cities." 

It must have been very early in the morning when 
Jesus and his disciples brought their boats to the shore 
at Gerasa. Just as they were landing, a man came 
running down the hill to meet them, and from his wild 
acts they saw that he was one of those wretched people 
who were under the power of evil spirits. This man wore 
no clothes; he would not live in any house, but stayed 
in the caves in the hillside, which were used as burial 
places. Thej- had tried to bind him with ropes and chains, 
206 



Catling Across; tfje £>ea 



but when the evil power was on him, he would break all 
his bonds and even snap his chains apart. He stayed all 
the time among the tombs, crying, moaning and gashing 
himself with sharp stones. 

This wild man ran toward Jesus and fell at his feet. 
As soon as Jesus saw the state he was in, he spoke to the 
evil spirit within the man: 

"Come out of this man, you vile spirit!" 

The spirit answered Jesus, crying out, "Jesus, son 
of the Most High God, what business have you with us? 
In the name of God, I call upon you not to make us suffer!" 

Jesus saw that this man's state was far worse than 
even most of those who were ruled by evil spirits. He 
said to the spirit, "What is your name?" 

"My name is Legion," answered the evil spirit; 
meaning that in the man was not only one, but many of 
the evil spirits, a whole army of them, for the word 
"legion" means an army. 

The demons, or evil spirits, begged Jesus not to 
send them far away. On the top of the hill was a herd 
of many hogs feeding. The Jewish people were not 
allowed to keep hogs nor to eat their flesh, so this drove 
of hogs must have belonged to foreign people, whom the 
Jews called Gentiles. 

Thc.evil spirits asked Jesus if when they left the man, 
they might go into these hogs; and Jesus allowed them. 
Then the demons or evil spirits went out of the man, 
leaving him lying upon the ground, naked but well. 
They went into the drove of hogs, and the hogs instantly 
became wild and could not be controlled. They rushed 
in a great mass down the steep side of the hill and into 
the water. There they were all drowned, about two 
thousand in number. The men who kept the hogs ran 
to the town near by, and told all the people what had 
happened; how the demons at the command of this 

207 



bailing Serosa tf)e &ea 



stranger had left the man, had gone into the drove of 
hogs and had caused them to drown in the waters. The 
people of the city came out to see for themselves what had 
taken place. They saw the man in whom had been the 
fierce evil spirits, new sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed 
and in his right mind, calm and peaceful. 

These Gadarene people evidently knew nothing 
of Jesus and the many good works that he had done. 




The evil spirits went out of the man into the hogs, causing them to rush down 
the hill into the water 

They were filled with dread of his power, and scarcely 
looking at the man whom Jesus had helped so wonder- 
fully, thought only of the hogs which they had lost. 
They begged Jesus to go away from their land and not 
to come to their town. Think what blessings Jesus might 
have brought to them, in curing their sick, giving sight 
to the blind, and hearing to the deaf, besides the good 
news of his teaching! But with no knowledge of these 
good gifts, they asked Jesus to leave them. 

And Jesus t ook them at their word. Sadly he turned 
away, went down to the beach and stepped into the boat. 
208 



££>atltng Serosa tf)e H>ea 



The man who had been set free from the evil spirits begged 
most earnestly to be allowed to go with Jesus. He majr 
have feared that the people of the city would be angry 
with him because the demons in him had killed their 
hogs; or he may have thought that the evil spirits might 
come back to him if he was left alone, without his mighty 
helper near. He knew that he would be safe if he were 
with his Lord, and he asked again and again that he might 
go away with Jesus, wherever he might go. 

But Jesus would not grant his prayer. He said to the 
man: 

"Go home to your own people, and tell them what 
great things the Lord has done for you, and how he has 
taken pity on you." 

The man went through all the country of Decapolis 
and told everybody whom he met what great things 
Jesus had done for him. When they heard this, they all 
wondered, and no doubt many wished that they had 
welcomed Jesus instead of sending him away. 




Jopp 



209 




woman came forward trembling with fear and told Jesus how she had 
touched his clothing and been made well. Jesus said to her: 
"Daughter, your faith has made you well." 



210 



Ki)t &itk OToman jWabe OTell anb 
tlje ©eab #irl Prougfjt to life 

CHAPTER 37 

A GREAT CROWD of people were on the shore at 
Capernaum, looking earnestly over the sea. On 
the evening before they had seen Jesus with his 
disciples in their boats pushing off from the beach and 
sailing out into the lake; and now they were watching 
for their return. Close by the water was standing one 
man, whose face showed that he was in great trouble, as 
he gazed anxiously in every direction over the sea. 

This man was named Jairus. He was the chief elder 
over the church in the town, which they called the 
synagogue. At home his little daughter twelve years 
old was lying very ill and likely to die at any moment. 
Jairus knew that if Jesus should come ashore in time, 
before his daughter would die, he could save her life; 
bo with hope and fear mingled, he stood on the shore 
watching for Jesus to come, but fearing that he might 
come too late. 

Ai Lasl he could see the large boat rising in sight and 
drawing nearer, with other smaller boats around it. 
Before Jesus could step ashore, Jairus fell down upon his 
face before him and cried out : 

"O Master, come to my house just as soon as you 
can! My little daughter is lying at the point of death; 
I pray you, come and lay your hands upon her so that she 
may live and be made well." 

Jesus went with him, and all the crowd followed, 
pressing closely upon him; some showing pity and hope 
for Jairus in his trouble, but more of them wishing to see 

211 



Z\)t g>tcfe aHoman jfflabe OTell 

Jesus do one of his wonderful works. In the edge of 
the crowd was standing a poor woman, wasted by sick- 
ness and as pale as death. She had a running sore, which 
for twelve years had drained away her blood. She was 
very eager to go to Jesus, for she believed that he could 
cure her sore, although many doctors had tried in vain 
to help her. She had spent all her money upon the doc- 
tors, one after another, but no one of them had done 
her any good, and she was all the time growing 
worse. Jesus was in the middle of this great crowd, 
and this woman was very weak, but by making a 
strong effort she was able to get near enough to Jesus, 
not to speak to him, but to reach her hand between 
those who were walking nearest to him and to touch 
his clothes. 

Suddenly a great hope arose in her heart. She said 
to herself, "I really believe that if I can just touch the 
Master's clothes I will be made well!" 

She reached out with trembling hand and touched 
the outer robe of Jesus. In an instant she felt a strange 
power come into her body and she knew that the sore 
was cured. She was well and strong! 

At that moment Jesus stopped in his walk, while 
Jairus was trying to hurry him onward. He stood still, 
looked all around, and said, "Who touched my clothes?" 

His disciples were beside him, and Peter answered: 

"Why, Master, the crowd is all around, pressing 
close upon you, and yet you say, 'Who touched me? 5 
while people are touching you all the time." 

But Jesus said, "I am sure that somebody touched 
me, because I felt that power had gone out from me." 

As he stood still and looked all around to see who had 
done this, the woman came forward out of the crowd and 
fell down at his feet, trembling with fear, afraid that she 
had offended him. She told of what she had suffered, 
212 



Cfte &tcfe TOoman Jilabe «*ell 

how she had touched his clothing and had been made 
well. Jesus said to her: 

" Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in 
peace and be free from your sickness." 

But while Jesus was delaying for these few moments, 
Jairus was standing by his side in growing alarm, for to 
him and his dying child every minute was precious. 
Just then some one from his own house came up to him 
through the crowd and said: 

"Your daughter is dead; what is the use of asking 
the Teacher to come any further? Not even he can help 
her now." 

These people had not heard how Jesus some weeks 
before had raised to life the widow's son at Nain, for that 
village was at least twenty-five miles from Capernaum. 

But Jesus spoke encouragingly to the sorrowing- 
father. "Have no fear; only believe, and she shall yet 
be well." 

They went to the house of Jairus, and the crowd 
would have followed him inside, but Jesus forbade them. 
He allowed none to go with him into the house, except 
the father and three of his disciples, Peter, James and 
John. 

The house was full of people, weeping and wailing, 
playing on flutes and making a great noise, as the manner 
was then and is even now in that land. Men and women 
are paid to come to the house where one is lying dead, 
and to scream and cry aloud, so that all in the town ma} r 
know of the death and of the sorrow of the family. 

Jesus said to the people in the house, "Why do you 
make such a noise? The little girl is not dead, but only 

sleeping." 

Jesus meant by these words that we need not be 
filled with sorrow when our friends die; for death is 
only a sleep until the time when God shall awaken them. 

213 




Jesus went into the room where the daughter of Jairus was lying dead on the 

bed, and taking her hand into his own said: "Little girl, 

I say to you, rise up!" 



214 



Wfje g>icfe OTioman JWabe »eii 

But this they did not understand; and they would not be 
comforted, for they knew that the child was dead. 

Jesus ordered all these hired mourners to leave the 
house. He went into the room where the dead child was 
lying on the bed, taking with him only her father and 
mother, with his three chosen disciples. Standing beside 
the dead body, he took its little hand into his own and 
said: 

"Little girl, I say to you, rise up!" 

And instantly the girl stood up, looked around and 
began to walk. How happy were that father and mother 
as they clasped in their arms their little girl, no longer 
dead, but living and well. All were filled with wonder. 
They would have told everybody about this mighty work, 
but Jesus said to them: 

"Give the child something to eat, but do not talk 
about her being brought back to life. Tell no one of it." 

















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Jesus healing the sick 



215 



£>tgfjt to tfpe $linb anb Voitt 
to tfje ©umt) 

CHAPTER 38 

A S r.u^l'V'n'T 1 " 8 outof Rehouse where he had 
/-\ raised to hfe the young girl, two blind men me, 
torn; for the news of his return to Capernaum had 
gone abroad, and these two men, eager to obta n t eh 
- g . at once set out to find Jesus. They followed J 
on the street, frying out aloud: 

"Have mercy on us, Son of David 1 " 
\ on know that Jesus came from the family of which 
David had been the head long before. All the people 
yoked for urn, a.s sprung from David, to take David's 
throne, and like David, become king over all the la ,1 

may have been the house where Simon Peter jived The 
Jnd men came into the house after Jesus. He said to 

"Do you I elieye that I can do this which you desire'?" 
They answered him, "Yes, Lord, we believe that you 



can 



Thn, Jesus placed his hands upon their eves, first on 
one man and then ontheother. ha he touched tl eir v 
^tothem.-Aay «Ueve, let it be dot to y ^ 

At «■£««* .eyes were opened and they could see. 

•Y 1 "' ""'"' Vl ' r ' v 8tr °ngly. and gave them 

pecial orders, saying, "See that nobody knows of 1 1™ 



guafjt to tfje Plmti 



He did not wish always to have crowds around seek- 
ing for miracles of healing, for he felt that he had a 
greater work to do in preaching to the souls of men than 
in curing their bodies. But these men went away and 
told all whom they met what a wonderful thing Jesus had 
clone for them. It was not strange that they should speak 
of it, even though he had forbidden them, for all who had 
known them before as blind men saw the great change in 
their looks, now that they could see, and asked them 
how it had come to pass; so that it was not easy to avoid 
telling people about it. But wherever it was told, people 
who had any disease, or were blind, or deaf and dumb, or 
lame, were filled with desire to find Jesus and be made 
well. 

Soon after these two men left Jesus, cured of their 
blindness, another man was brought to Jesus. This was a 
dumb man, in whom lived an evil spirit. Jesus always 
cast out the evil spirits, without waiting to be asked, 
whenever he found them ruling over men. He spoke to 
this evil spirit, and it left the man. Then all at once the 
man began to speak, for it was the evil spirit in him that 
had made him dumb. All the people wondered, and 
said to one another: 

"Such power as this has never before been seen in 
the land of Israel!" 

But the scribes and Pharisees, who were enemies of 
Jesus, said again, as they had said before: 

"This man casts out the evil spirits, because Satan, 
the prince of the evil spirits, helps him." 



217 



CHAPTER 39 

JESUS HAD now preached in nearly all parts of Gal- 
ilee, except in the middle portion,, the region around 
Nazareth, the home of his younger days. You 
remember that when he had tried to speak in Nazareth, 
soon after coming from Judea, the people refused to listen 
to him, thinking that one who had been only a working- 
man and not a Rabbi or scribe could not teach them 
anything. 

But Jesus loved those people in Nazareth, for many 
of the men had been with him boys at school ; and his own 
sisters lived there with their children, boys and girls, who 
were his nephews and nieces. He longed to see them all, 
and made up his mind to go again to Nazareth, and see 
if its people would this time listen to him. On his earlier 
visit he had been alone, and the men of Nazareth in their 
anger had tried to kill him by throwing him down a very 
steep hill; but now Jesus had with him his twelve dis- 
ciples and many more who followed him from place to 
place. On this visit the men of Nazareth did not venture 
to do him harm, because of his many friends around 
him. 

As before, Jesus went to the village church on the 
Sabbath day and preached. Again the people listened 
to him with wonder at his words; but again they said: 

"Is not this the carpenter who used to make plows 
and hoes and tables for us? How can he teach us?" 

He could only do a few of his great works, because the 
people would not believe in him. He did, indeed, lay his 
hands upon a few that were sick, and made them well; 
218 



Ctoeitoe $reac{jer£ g>ent 0nl 



but he could only wonder at the hardness of heart in 
those among whom he had lived so many years. 

Leaving Nazareth with a sad heart, he went around 
the villages in middle Galilee, teaching in the churches 
and curing sickness of all kinds. As he saw how poor 
the people were, how 
little they knew of the 
truth, and how greatly 
they longed for it, he 
felt a great pity for 
them. They seemed to 
Jesus like sheep that 
were lost and wander- 
ing, not having any 
shepherd. He said to 
his disciples: 

"The harvest truly 
is rich, but the workers 
in it are very few. Pray 
very earnestly to the 
Lord of the harvest that 
he may send out work- 
ers to gather in his 
harvest." 

Jesus knew that 
the time of his work in 
( ralilee was nearly end- 
ed. There were other 
parts of the land of Israel where he had not yet preached, 
and he wished to visit them. He knew, too, what none 
but himself knew, that in a year he would be taken away 
from the earth, and his disciples would be left alone to 
carry on his work and preach to all the people the news 
of God's kingdom. He made up his mind to send out 
his twelve disciples, whom he named "the apostles," and 

219 




Peace be to this house ' 



Ctoeltoe ^reacfjerS ^>ent <©ut 



to let them begin their work by preaching in the villages 
of < ralilee which he had not found time to visit. 

So he called together his twelve disciples, and 
divided them into pairs, sending two men together, that 
they might help each other. He poured upon them some 
of his own power to cure diseases and to cast out evil 
spirits from men. He gave them commands about their 
work, to whom they should go and how they should act. 
lie said: 

"Do not go to an}' city of the Gentiles, the foreigners; 
and keep away from the villages of the Samaritan people. 
Your work just now is to be among the lost sheep of the 
house of Israel. Go to the Jews throughout the land, and 
tell them that the kingdom of God has come, and that 
they may enter it. Cure the sick, raise the dead to life, 
cleanse the lepers, cast out the evil spirits from men. 
Give freely, without being paid; for you have received 
the gift of God freely. 

"Do not take with } r ou any money of gold or silver 
or copper in your girdle; nor a bag to cany food for the 
road; nor two shirts, nor a pair of shoes; but go wearing 
only sandals on your feet. For God's workman deserves 
his food, and it will be given to him. 

" When you come to a village, ask for some good man, 
go to his house, and stay there while you are in that 
village. Do not go visiting from one house to another. 
When you come to a house say, 'Peace be to this house.' 
If the people dwelling in that house are worthy of your 
peace, then peace shall be given to them; if they are not 
worthy, your peace shall come back to you. And if in 
any place the people will not hear you nor give you 
welcome, then as you go out of that house or that city, 
lake oil' your sandals and shake the dust of that place 
from them as a sign. I say to you in truth that in the day 
of judgmenl it shall be worse for the cities that have 
220 



ftoeltoe $reacf)ers ^>ent ©\xt 



refused you than for Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities 
upon which God rained down fire. 

"You are sent forth like sheep among wolves; so 
be wise like serpents, yet harmless like doves. But you 
must watch against evil men, for they will seize you and 
hand you over to 
courts to be judged; 
3'ou will be beaten 
in their court-rooms; 
you will be brought 
before governors 
and kings, because 
you are my follow- 
ers. Now, when they 
bring you up for 
trial, do not be anx- 
ious about what you 
shall speak or how 
you shall say it; for 
what to speak shall 
be given you when 
you need it. For it 
is not you that 
speak, but the spirit 
of your Father in 
heaven that speaks 
in you." 

Many more 
words Jesus spoke to his twelve disciples; and at the end 
of his charge he said this: 

"Whoever receives you and listens to you, it is the 
same as though he received me, your teacher; and who- 
ever receives me, receives my Father who sent me. He 
that receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall 
receive a prophet's reward. He who receives a good man 

221 




Whoever gives to one of these little ones 
even a cup of cold water because he is my 
disciple, he will not lose his reward " 



Ctoelbe $read)er£ £>ent <©ut 



because he is a good man shall receive a good man's 
reward. And whoever gives to one of these little ones 
eveD a cup of cold water because he is a disciple of mine, 
I tell 3 r ou truly, he will not lose his reward.' 

After giving his commands to the twelve disciples, 
Jesus sent them out to preach, while he himself went to 
other places telling the people the good news of the 
Kingdom of God. 




The great mosque at Damascus 



222 



9 ©ance; anb ^oto 3t OTa* 
$atb Jfor 

CHAPTER 40 

DURING NEARLY all the year of Jesus' teaching 
and preaching in Galilee, John the Baptist was 
in Herod's prison at a lonely place called Machse- 
rus, on the east of the river Jordan, near the Dead Sea. v 
You remember that John was put into prison because 
King Herod's queen, Herodias, became angry against 
him, when John said to Herod that it was not right for 
him to take away his brother's wife and have her as his 
own. Herodias hated. John and tried many times to 
have him killed, but Herod held John in high respect 
and would not suffer him to be slain. 

But at last the chance came for Herodias to carry 
out her purpose. On King Herod's birthday, he held at 
Machserus, which was not only a prison but a palace, 
a great feast to his lords, the captains of his army, and the 
chief men of his kingdom. At this feast the daughter of 
Herodias, a young girl, came in and danced before the 
company. Herod and the guests with him were so 
delighted with the girl's dancing that the king made her 
a very foolish promise. He said to her: 

"You may ask for anything that you please, and I 
will give it to you." He went further and even swore with 
an oath to her, "I will give you whatever you choose, 
even to half of my kingdom." 

The girl went to her mother and said to her, "What 
shall I ask?" 

And Herodias hissed out the words, "You ask for 
the head of John the Baptist." 

223 



& ©ante 

The girl went in haste to the king, and said, "I want 
you to give me here on a platter the head of John the 
Baptist." 

The king was greatly displeased and very angry. 
He knew that his wife Herodias had led the girl to make 
tin's choice, and he would have liked to break his promise. 
But because he had given his word and was ashamed to 
call it back before all the nobles at his feast, he gave 




The daughter of Herodias dancing before Herod 

orders, very unwillingly, to his guards to have her will 
carried out. They went into the prison, and with a sharp 
sword cut off the head of John the Baptist, the best and 
noblest man in all his kingdom. The head was laid on 
a platter and given to the young girl, who carried it to 
her mother. So the man whom Jesus called "a prophet 
and more than a prophet" was slain to satisfy the whim 
of a dancing girl and her wicked mother! 

The few followers who had still clung to John the 
Baptist, and visited him in his prison, took up his head- 
224 



S ©ance 

less body and buried it. Then they went to Jesus and 
told him all the sad story of John's death. 

But Herod was not yet done with John the Baptist. 
Soon he began to hear wonderful stories of the new 
prophet, Jesus the Nazarene, who had risen up in John's 
place. He heard that amazing powers were shown by 
Jesus, that the sick were cured, the lepers were made 
clean, the blind were made to see, and, most wonderful 
of all, the dead were raised to life. 

People were saying to each other, "Who is this great 
Prophet that is working all these wonders?" 

Some said, "This is the old prophet Elijah, who has 
come to earth again." 

Others said, "If he is not Elijah, it may be Jeremiah 
or some other prophet of the old times." 

But Herod was filled with a terrible fear, for his 
conscience troubled him on account of his wicked deeds. 
He said: 

"I know who this is. It is John the Baptist, whose 
head I had cut off. He has come to life again. It is on 
his account that all these wonderful things are taking 
place!" 

Thus the bloody head of John the Baptist, like a 
terrible ghost, rose before the sight of Herod the king! 



22f 




After he had blessed the food and broken it, Jesus gave a portion to each of 
his disciples, who went among the people and fed them. As the loaves and 
fishes were broken they grew in their hands until every one had enough 
to eat. 

226 



Ki)t pop tottf) $te Jfifae JLasfotZ 

CHAPTER 41 

THE NEWS that King Herod had slain the holy 
prophet John the Baptist sent a thrill of horror to 
all who heard it. It came to the twelve disciples, 
who were just completing their work of preaching in 
the villages of Galilee. They feared that Herod might 
seize them and put them in prison; but they were more 
alarmed for their Master. Having slain John who had 
made Jesus known to the people, they feared that Herod 
might now try to kill Jesus himself. 

They all hastened to Capernaum, where they found 
Jesus, and gave him the report of the places which they 
had visited, the work which they had done in healing and 
helping people and the message which they had given 
everywhere about the Kingdom of God. The disciples 
found the crowds around Jesus greater than ever before; 
for not only had the preaching of these disciples aroused 
an interest in Jesus and led many to leave their homes and 
seek him, but the Passover, the greatest of all Jewish 
feasts, was to be held soon, and the city of Capernaum 
was thronged with people who were on their way to Jeru- 
salem; for as you know, this feast was held only in that 
city, and from every part of the land people went up to 
Jerusalem to attend it. 

So many were the people coming and going and those 
who were looking for Jesus and seeking his power to cure 
their diseases, that Jesus and his disciples could scarcely 
find a chance to eat. The crowds were constantly 
pressing upon them. He said to his disciples: 

"Come, let us take the boat and go across the lake to 

227 



Cfje Pop tottf) Jit* Jfibe Hoabe* 

some quiet place, away from the crowds, and there rest 
for a time." 

They went into the boat and started to row over the 
lake. But the people saw them going and many tried to 
follow them. Those who had boats sailed in them after 
the course in which they saw the boat with Jesus and his 
disciples. And the others, a great multitude, walked and 
ran around the head of the lake, waded across the river 
Jordan where it enters the Sea of Galilee, still keeping 
Jesus' boat in sight, and were at the beach to meet Jesus 
when he landed near the town of Bethsaida, which was on 
the northeastern shore. Here Jesus was safe, for Beth- 
saida was outside the rule of King Herod and in the land 
governed by Herod's brother Philip. 

When Jesus stepped out of his boat on the shore 
near Bethsaida, there he found a great throng of people, 
more than five thousand men, besides some women and 
children. When Jesus saw how eager they were and how 
glad to meet him, his heart of love and pity went out 
toward them. He cured some sick people that they had 
brought and he spoke to them about the kingdom of 
God. 

The day began to draw to its close and the sun was 
almost sinking below the hills of Galilee, when the 
disciples said to Jesus: 

"It is getting late and will soon be night. These 
crowds of people came so suddenly that they have brought 
with them nothing to eat. Send them away, so that 
they may go to the city of Bethsaida and the villages 
around and buy food and find places to stay through the 
night. We are here, you see, in a desert place, where 
there is neither food nor lodging for them." 

But Jesus said to his disciples, " There is no need for 
them to go away; do you give them something to eat." 

They said to him, " Shall we go into the town and 
228 



TOje pop tottfj JN* jftbe loabe* 

buy thirty dollars' worth of bread, so that each one of 
them may have a little?" 

Jesus turned to Philip, one of his disciples, and asked 
him, " Philip, where shall we find bread, that all these 
people may eat?" 

Jesus said this to try Philip's faith, for he himself 
knew already what he would do. Philip looked over 
the crowd gathered upon the level ground, and he 
answered, "Thirty dollars' worth of bread would not be 
enough to give to each one even a little piece." 

Jesus said to his disciples, "How many loaves have 
you? Go and see." 

Just then another of the disciples, Andrew, the 
brother of Simon Peter, came up to Jesus and said, 
"There is a boy here who has five loaves of barley bread 
and two little fishes ; but what use would they be among 
so many people?" 

Jesus said, "Bring them to me." 

So they led to Jesus this boy with his lunch basket, 
in which his mother had placed five large flat biscuits 
of barle} r and two small salted fishes. 

Jesus said to his disciples, "Go out among the 
people and tell them to arrange themselves into companies, 
with fifty or a hundred in each company, and to sit down 
upon the grass." 

The disciples did as Jesus ordered, and soon all the 
crowd was divided up into groups of fifty or a hundred 
people, all seated on the ground. On the green grass, 
arranged in rows and squares with their clothes of dif- 
ferent colors, they looked like beds of flowers. 

Then, in the sight of all the people, Jesus took the 
five loaves and the two fishes. He waved his hand for 
silence, and while all were still, looked up to heaven, gave 
thanks to God for his gift of food, and blessed it. He 
broke the loaves which were like large flat crackers or 

229 



Z\)t Pop tottf) J^ig Jftbc Hoabess 



biscuit, and gave to each of his disciples a piece and also 
a piece of dried fish. The disciples went among the 
people breaking off pieces of the loaves and fishes and 
handing them out. As they were broken, the loaves and 
fishes grew in their hands, until every one in the company 
had enough to eat. 

Then Jesus said, "Go and gather up the pieces of 
food that are left, so that nothing may be wasted." 

Each of the twelve disciples carried a basket among 
the people, and took from them all that w r as left. When 
they came back to Jesus, all the twelve baskets were 
filled with the pieces left over of the loaves and fishes. 
There had been in the beginning only five loaves and two 
fishes. Of these, five thousand men, besides women and 
children, had eaten as much as they wanted. And now 
came back twelve baskets full of bits left over — much 
more at the end after all had eaten than at the beginning. 

When the people saw that here w r as one who could 
give them food, all that they wanted, they said to each 
other, "This is the man that we want for our king! 
He can give us bread to eat without our working for it. 
Let us break away from the rule of the Romans and make 
Jesus our king!" 

Jesus knew their thoughts and what they were saying 
to each other, for he knew all things. He knew, too, 
that he was a king, but not such a king as they wished. 
His kingdom was to be in the hearts of those who loved 
him, not a kingdom won by armies and by swords. 
Jesus found that his disciples were pleased to find the 
people so eager at once to crown Jesus as their King, 
for that would mean high rank and offices for themselves. 

Jesus, therefore, began by sending away his disciples. 
He compelled them, much against their will, to get into 
the boat, and to row over the lake toward Capernaum. 
After sending away his disciples, he sent away the 
230 



ftfje Pop tottf) ?|tg Jftbe loabes 

multitudes, who were also unwilling to go, for they 
could not understand why Jesus should refuse to be made 
king. 

When all were gone away and quiet was around him 
and the night had come on, Jesus went to the top of a 
mountain near by, and spent some hours in prayer to his 
heavenly Father. He needed prayer, for he saw in this 
attempt to make him king another effort of Satan to 
bring Jesus under his power, by giving him a worldly 
kingdom, instead of a heavenly. 




A distant view of "The Horns of Hattin," in the hollow of which 

Christ sat while he preached "The Sermon on the 

Mount" to the multitude gathered about him 



231 




A.s Jesus drew near, Peter cried out, "Lord, if it is reallv you, command me to 
come to you on the water." 



232 



iloto tfje H>ea pecame a Jfioor 

CHAPTER 42 

ON THE night after the multitude was fed with the 
five loaves, while Jesus was praying alone on the 
mountain, his disciples were rowing over the lake 
toward Capernaum. It was very dark; and soon after 
midnight a terrible storm arose, as storms often come 
very suddenly upon the Sea of Galilee. From his moun- 
tain top, through all the darkness and miles away, 
Jesus could see them struggling with the waves, and in 
great danger of losing their lives, for he could see all 
things. 

While the disciples were pulling hard with their 
oars, suddenly they saw someone walking upon the 
waves and drawing near their boat. They were more 
alarmed, when they saw this form walking over the waves 
as though the waters were a solid floor, than they had 
been at the storm threatening to swallow them up, for 
they thought that surely this was a spirit from the world 
of the dead, coming to give warning that death was 
awaiting them. They cried out in their terror; but soon 
heard a voice speaking to them above the roaring of the 
wind and the dashing of the waves; a voice which they 
knew well. It was the voice of Jesus, saying: 

"Be of good cheer! it is I; do not be afraid!" 

Then they knew that it was no spirit or ghost from 
the grave, but their own Lord and Saviour coming to help 
them. What a load of fear was lifted from them when 
they heard that voice! 

But one of the disciples, one who was always putting 
himself in the front, thought that if Jesus could walk on 

233 



Hob tfje £>ea became a Jf loor 



the water, he would like to do the same. You would 
know that this one was Simon Peter, a good man, but 
very quick in his impulses. He cried out, as Jesus drew 
near, "Lord, if it is really you, command me to come to 
you on the water." 

And the Lord said, "Come." Then Peter leaped 
overboard from the boat and began to walk on the water 
toward Jesus. But after a few steps on the sea, he saw 
how heavy the storm was, and was afraid; and at that 
moment he began to sink. He shouted out, "Lord, 
save me!" 

Jesus reached out his hand and caught him and kept 
him from sinking, saying to him: 

"How little vou trust me! Why did } r ou doubt my 
word?" 

When Jesus, holding Peter's hand, came with him 
into the boat, the wind stopped, and the sea became calm. 
They found that they were close to the land. Then all 
the men in the boat fell down at the feet of Jesus and 
said, "Truly you are the Son of God!" 

Soon the daylight came, and they saw that their 
boat was beside a plain, reaching into the lake, a few 
miles south of Capernaum, called the land of Gennesaret. 
The} r went ashore and drew up their boat on the beach. 
The people of that place knew Jesus, for many of them 
had heard him in Capernaum. They were glad to have 
him come to their land; and sent word through all the 
plain that Jesus, the great teacher and healer, had landed 
on their shore. From all the country around they brought 
on their beds those that were sick, and laid them before 
Jesus, begging him to cure them. Many came near his 
side, and asked him if they might only touch the border 
of the mantle which he wore; and all who touched it 
were made perfectly well, so strong was their faith in 
Jesus. 
234 



fctje Prcab of "kiit 

CHAPTER 43 

ON THE morning after the day when Jesus had fed 
the five thousand people with the five loaves, 
the crowd came together once more, hoping again 
to see Jesus; and some of them expecting to have the 
miracle or wonder-work repeated. On the evening before, 
they had seen the twelve disciples go out upon the lake 
in their boat, and had noticed that Jesus did not sail 
with them. The}' thought that Jesus must still be there, 
and looked all around for him, not knowing that in the 
night he had walked upon the sea to help his disciples 
in the storm. Failing to find Jesus, they thought that 
he must have gone back to his home in Capernaum. 
They found some other boats upon the shore, and in 
these they crossed the lake to Capernaum. 

They found Jesus at the church in Capernaum, and 
said to him, " Rabbi, when did you come here?" 

"I tell you the truth," answered Jesus, "it is not on 
account of the signs of power which you saw that you are 
looking for me, but because you ate of the bread which I 
gave you, and had your fill. You should work, not for 
the food which does not last, but for that which endures 
to everlasting life; that bread the Son of Man will give 
you, for upon him the Father has set his seal of power." 

Jesus wished them to understand that the truth 
which he could give them was more to the soul than food 
was to the body, for it would give the life of God, which 
never passes away. 

"In what way," they asked him, "can we do the 
work that God would have us do?" 

235 



Clje JBrcab of life 



"The work that God would have you do," answered 
Jesus, "is to believe in him whom God has sent to you 
as his message-bearer." 

"Well, then," they said to Jesus, "show us the sigD 
that will prove that you have come from God, then we 
will believe in 3-011. What is the work that you are 
doing? Our fathers under Moses in the desert ate the 
manna that Moses gave them. You remember that it is 
written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' ' 

You see, the people wanted Jesus to show his power 
again by repeating the miracle with the loaves, and giving 
t hem more bread in the same way. 

"In truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "it was not 
Moses who gave your fathers the bread from heaven; 
it was my Father, the Lord God. And m} r Father does 
give you now the real bread from heaven. For God's 
bread is that which comes down from heaven and gives 
life to the world." 

"Master," they said, "give us that bread always!" 

"I am the life-giving bread," answered Jesus. "He 
who comes to me shall never be hungiy, and he who 
believes in me shall never be thirsty. But, as I told you, 
you have seen me, and yet you do not believe in me. 
All those whom the Father gives me will come to me; 
and no one who comes to me will I ever turn away. For 
I have come down from heaven not to carry out my own 
will, but the will of Him who sent me; and his will is 
this — that I should not lose even one of all those whom He 
has given me, but shall raise them up to life at the last 
great day. For it is the will of my Father that every one 
who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have ever- 
last ing life ; and I myself will raise him up at the last day." 

The Jews who heard Jesus began to find faidt with 
him for saying, "I am the bread which came down from 
heaven." 
236 



Cije JSreab of Hiit 






"Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his 
father and mother. How can he say, 'I came down from 
heaven?' " 

They could not understand his words, and they were 
angry with him because he would not again work the 
miracle of giving them bread. Also they now found 
that Jesus was not willing to be a king such as they 
wanted, one that would sit on a throne and live in a 
palace; would raise an army to drive away the Romans 
and make the Jews a ruling people upon the earth. It 
was, as we have seen, the time of the Passover, and one 
reason for the great crowds around Jesus was that all 
were expecting him to lead the people to Jerusalem and 
take his place as the king of Israel. But this year Jesus 
did not go, as he usually did, to the feast in Jerusalem, 
for he had other plans for himself and his disciples. 

When the crowd following Jesus found that he would 
not be a king according to their desires, that he would 
not do wonders for them to look upon, and that his 
words were such as they could not understand, nearly 
all of them turned against Jesus. They went away, 
leaving the twelve disciples alone with him. 

Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you, too, wish to leave 
me?" 

Simon Peter answered for them all, "Lord, to whom 
shall we go if we leave you? You have the words that 
will give us everlasting life. And we believe and are 
certain that you are the Holy One of God." 

These men did not understand all the words of 
Jesus, but they had learned to love him and to believe 
that he was the promised King. They were ready to 
stay with him until death. 

"Did I not choose you to be the Twelve?" said 
Jesus, "and yet, even among you there is one who is 
doing the devil's work." 

237 



Z\)i $reab of life 



They did not know of whom he was speaking; but 
he meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot; the one of 
the twelve disciples who a year afterward was to give 
up his Master to death. At that time Judas himself 
did not know this. Jesus, who could read the hearts of 
men, saw in Judas the signs all unknown to himself that 
he would do this dreadful deed. 




Of Nam, and rising in the background 
is Mount Tabor 



238 



3Te$u£ in a Strange Country 

CHAPTER 44 

WITH HIS sermon on "The Bread of Life," 
given in the church at Capernaum, Jesus finished 
his work among the people of Galilee. He had 
lived in that land for more than a year; he had traveled 
through every part of it; he had spoken in most of its 
villages and cities, and had sent out his disciples to 
preach in many other places. Everybody in Galilee 
had either heard Jesus or had heard about him. If they 
did not believe in him and his gospel, it was because they 
would not. 

There was another and important work which now 
lay before Jesus. That was the training of his twelve 
disciples. These men, the apostles, as they were called 
later, had been with him for nearly a year. They had 
listened to his preaching and had heard his sermons many 
limes, over and over again; for in different places Jesus 
gave the same talks to the people; but those talks and 
parables the Twelve heard in each place, as Jesus wished 
those men to hear his words until they knew them by 
heart and could give them as his message to others who 
had not heard Jesus himself. 

One reason why we have in the four gospels, by 
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, so many of the teachings 
and parables of Jesus, is that the disciples heard them so 
many times, learned them, could tell them to others; 
and thus at least thirty years after Jesus passed away 
from earth, his words were remembered and could be 
written down. 

But besides the public teachings of Jesus, such as 

239 



Jesus in a Strange Country 



the Sermon on the Mount and the parables, there were 
other great truths of the gospel that could not be given 
to the people, for they were not ready for them and could 
not understand them. We can see how the common 
people were puzzled by his words about "the bread of 
life." Jesus saw that it was needful fur him to take the 
twelve disciples apart b} T themselves, that he might 
teach them some of the deeper truths of his gospel. In 
Galilee he could not be alone with these men ; for wherever 
he might go there would always be man}- sick people 
coming to be cured and others leading men held in the 
power of evil spirits begging Jesus to cast them out. 
Then, too, in every place were the Pharisees and scribes, 
bringing their questions, asking for miracles, and trying 
to stir up the people against Jesus. Wherever Jesus 
was, a crowd was always around him, and he could find 
no time to teach his disciples some truths needful for 
them to know. 

He made up his mind to go away from Galilee to 
some quiet place where no one would know of his coming. 
On the northwest of Galilee was a narrow land, on the 
other side of the Lebanon mountains, beside the great 
Mediterranean Sea. It was called Phoenicia, from the 
people who lived there, the Phoenicians; and also called 
"the land of Tyre and Sidon," from its two leading cities. 
The people who lived in that country were not Jews, and 
few of them even spoke the Jewish language. Jesus 
thought that this would be a quiet place where he could 
talk alone with his disciples. 

Jesus and the Twelve quietly left Capernaum, and 
walked over the mountains to this land of Tyre and 
Sidon. There they found a house and went into it, 
intending for a time to live there. Jesus wished nobody 
to know of his coming; but he could not be hidden. A 
woman of that country heard of him, and at once went 
240 




The woman threw herself at Jesus' feet and cried aloud: "Have mercy on 
me, O Lord, son of David!" 



3fes;u£ in a Strange Country 



to Jesus, threw herself at his feet, and begged him to 
come and cast an evil spirit out of her daughter. 

This woman was not of the Jewish people. She was 
a foreigner, of a mingled Syrian and Phoenician race, a 
people called "Canaanites." She cried aloud and kept 
on crying: 

"Have mercy on me, Lord, son of David! My 
little daughter is terribly troubled with an unclean spirit. 
Will you not please come and help her?" 

At first Jesus did not answer her one word. But his 
disciples said to him, "O Master! send this woman away, 
for she is making a great noise and disturbing us!" To 
them she was only a Gentile, a heathen woman, and the 
Jews, even those who followed Jesus, looked with great con- 
tempt on all such people. They did not know that Jesus 
was sent to save not only the Jews but also the Gentiles. 

Jesus wished to teach his disciples a lesson, that a 
Gentile could have the same faith as a Jew. He said to 
the woman: 

"I was not sent to your people, but only to the lost 
sheep of the house of Israel." 

But the woman kept on following him. She knelt 
down before Jesus, and said, "Master, help me!" 

He said to her, "Let the children be satisfied first 
of all ; it is not fair to take the children's bread and throw 
it to the dogs." 

"That is true, Lord," said the woman; "yet the little 
dogs under the table do pick up some of the children's 
crumbs." 

Then Jesus said to her, "0 woman, your faith is 
great. Your prayer is granted as you wish. The evil 
spirit is gone away from your daughter." 

The woman believed the word of Jesus. She hastened 
to her home and found her daughter well and resting upon 
her bed. 
16 241 



in tfje %anh of tfce Wtn Cttteg 

CHAPTER 45 

JESUS SOON found that if he wished to be alone with 
his disciples, he must leave the. land of Tyre and 
Sidon; for after he had cured the woman's child of 
her evil spirit, the people were coming to him for other 
mighty works. He made up his mind to go farther away, 
and taking his disciples, he went to Sidon, north of Tyre, 
and then not through Galilee, but around it, to the river 
Jordan, north of the Sea of Galilee. He crossed the 
Jordan, and on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee came 
to a country called Decapolis, or "the land of the Ten 
Cities," from ten large places in that region. While they 
were on this journey, few people saw them, and as they 
walked together he talked to his disciples and taught them 
many things. 

The place to which Jesus came was not far from the 
town where some months before he had cast out from a 
poor man a whole army of evil spirits and had sent them 
into the drove of hogs. At that time, you remember, the 
people had come to Jesus and had begged him to go away 
from them, for they had seen his power, but knew nothing 
of his goodness. But after that miracle, the man who had 
been cured went all through this land of the Ten Cities, 
t elling the people everywhere of the good work Jesus had 
• lone to him and how much they had lost in sending him 
away. 

On this second visit of Jesus to this land, the people 
were ready and eager for his coming. They gathered 
a round Jesus with great joy, and came from near and from 
far to see him. He went up into a mountain and sat 
242 



3n tfje ILanb of tfje ®en Cities 



down with his disciples, hoping to be alone. But the 
people came to him in great crowds, bringing with them 
those that were lame, and ill with different diseases. 
They laid these suffering people at his feet, and ashed him 
to cure them. He made them all well. They all won- 
dered, as they saw the dumb talking, the cripples made 





View of Tyre 



blind 



seeing: 



sound, the lame walking about and the 
and they all praised the God of Israel. 

At this time they led to Jesus a man who was very 
deaf, and who stammered so that people could scarcely 
understand his words. They asked Jesus to place his 
hand on this man and cure him. But Jesus would not do 
this in public, with a crowd of people looking on. He led 

243 



3n tljc lanb of tije €en Citteg 



liim away out of the throng to a place where they could 
be by themselves. He put his fingers into the man's 
cars, and then, moistening one finger upon his own tongue, 
with it touched the man's tongue. Looking up to heaven 
with a sigh, h,e said, "Be opened." The man's ears and 
his tongue were at once set free; he could hear and, could 
speak plainly. Jesus forbade the man and his friends 
to tell an3 r one about the cure; but contrary to his com- 
mand the}' made it known everywhere. All who saw 
this man were astonished; and they said of Jesus, "He 
has done evenihing well! He makes even the deaf to 
hear and the dumb to speak!" 

The crowd clung to Jesus and followed him for three 
i la ys . By t hat time what ever food the people had brought 
with them had been eaten and yet they stayed with Jesus, 
never thinking of their needs. Jesus called his disciples 
together and said to them: 

"My heart is touched on account of all these people; 
for they have now been with me three days and they have 
nothing to eat. Some of them have come from distant 
places, and I cannot bear to send them away hungry for 
fear that they may break down by the way." 

"Where can we," the disciples asked him, "in a 
lonely place like this, with no towns near, find bread for 
such a crowd as this?" 

"How many loaves have you?" asked Jesus. 

"We have in all seven loaves," they answered, "and 
with them a few small fishes." 

Jesus told ail the crowds to sit down upon the ground; 
and when they had done so, he held up the loaves and the 
fishes, and gave thanks to his heavenly Father for them. 
Then he broke the loaves into pieces, also the dried fish, 
and gave them to the disciples. The disciples distributed 
them among the people; and everyone had all that he 
wanted to eat. 
244 



3fn tfte %anb of tfje Km Cities; 



After the meal, the disciples went around with large 
baskets, and picked up of the food left over seven baskets 
full. At this time the people who were fed by Jesus were 
four thousand men, besides women and children. When 
all were satisfied, Jesus told them to go back to their 
homes; then with his disciples, he went into the boat 
and sailed across the Sea of Galilee. 




Sidon 



245 



ggatn on tfje ika of Galilee 

CHAPTER 46 

FROM THE land of the Ten Cities, Jesus and his 
disciples sailed straight across the Sea of Galilee, 
and on its southwestern shore they came to a city 
called Magadan or Magdala. One of the women who 
went with Jesus on his journeys in Galilee, Mary Magda- 
lene, that is, Mary of Magdala, was from this city. Jesus 
came to this place for rest and for quiet talking with his 
disciples; but as soon as he landed he was met by some 
Pharisees and others who did not believe in him. They 
said to him: 

" Teacher, show us some sign from heaven that you 
are a prophet or one whom God has sent." 

They wished Jesus to do some miracle or wonderful 
work, not that they might believe in him, but only that 
1 hey might see what he could do. Everywhere the Phari- 
sees, who looked upon themselves as leaders, were opposed 
to Jesus and stirred up the ignorant people against him. 

We have already seen that Jesus never gave any cures 
or wonderful works merely to be looked upon. He would 
help those who were in need or in trouble; but he would 
not merely satisfy an idle desire to see a miracle. He 
answered these Pharisees as he had answered others: 

" I will give you a sign from heaven. In the evening, 
al sunset you say, 'It will be fine weal her, for the sky is 
as red as fire.' But in the morning, if the sky is red, 
you say, 'It will be a stormy day, for the sky is red as 
fire, and threatening.' You learn to read the signs in the 
sky. yet you do not know how to read the signs of the 
times. If you would look, you mighl see whether I come 
246 



Sgatn on tfje g>ea of #altlee 



from God or not. It is a wicked and a disobedient 
people who continually ask for signs. No sign shall be 
given to this people, except the sign of the prophet 
Jonah." 

He did not even tell them how Jonah was to be a 
sign or token to them. Perhaps a few months later, when 
these people heard that Jesus had been slain and buried; 
then after three days had risen again to life, just as 
Jonah had come forth alive after being buried for three 
days in the great fish, they would then understand how 
Jonah had been as a sign of Jesus. 

Jesus saw at once that this was no place to find quiet 
and a chance to teach his disciples, so he went into the 
boat again, with his disciples, and sailed away up the 
lake. They left in such haste that the disciples did not 
think, while they were ashore, to buy some bread, and 
they had with them in the boat only one loaf for Jesus 
and twelve men. 

While they were rowing over the sea, Jesus said to 
them: 

"Take care and be on your guard against the leaven 
of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." 

The}' thought that he was speaking to them about 
their having failed to bring more bread, and they began 
talking among themselves. Jesus noticed this, and he said : 

"Why are you talking to one another about your 
being short of bread? How little trust you have in me! 
Do you not remember the five loaves with which I fed 
the five thousand, and the twelve baskets full of pieces 
that you picked up afterward? Have you forgotten about 
the seven loaves among the four thousand, and the seven 
baskets full that you picked up? How is it that you do 
not see that I was not speaking to you about bread? 
No, be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees 
and the leaven of Herod." 

247 



&gatn on tfje g>ea of (©alike 



In warning his disciples against the leaven of the 
Pharisees, Jesus meant their pride and pretense of relig- 
ion and exactness in obeying rules, while failing to serve 
God with the heart. By the leaven of Herod, he meant 
the spirit of living for the world, of guilty pleasure, with- 
out a thought of doing God's will. 

They came to Bethsaida; and as soon as the people 
saw Jesus they brought to him a blind man and begged 
him to touch him, hoping to see Jesus give him his sight. 
Bui Jesus would not let them look on the curing of the 
man. He took him away from the crowd, and outside 
the town, to a lonely place. There, after spitting upon the 
man's eyes, he laid his hands upon him, and asked him: 

"Can you see anything?" 

The man looked up, and said, " Yes, I can see a little, 
but not very clearly. I see men moving about, but they 
look like trees." 

Then Jesus placed his hands on the man's eyes. He 
looked around, and now could see everything distinctly. 

Jesus said to him, "Now go directly to your home; 
and do not go into the town, where men will see you and 
ask how you received your sight." 

Jesus and his disciples did not stop in Bethsaida; 
for he felt that he must find some quiet, lonely place, 
where he could teach his disciples the great truths of 
which they knew nothing; truths, too, which it would 
be hard for them to believe and to understand. So from 
Bethsaida he went on, following a road beside the river 
Jordan to the foot of Mount Hermon, far in the north. 



248 



GTfje (great Confes&ton 

CHAPTER 47 

FROM BETHSAIDA by the Sea of Galilee Jesus led 
his twelve disciples northward, to the very end of 
the land of Israel, at the foot of Mount Hermon. 
Here, at one of the great springs from which the river 
Jordan flows, was the city of Csesarea-Philippi, or 
"Philip's Csesarea," so called because it was in the land 
ruled by Herod Philip, the brother of Herod Antipas, 
who was ruling in Galilee. Jesus did not go into the city 
of Cassarea-Philippi, but into one of the villages near the 
city, for he wished not to have a crowd around him, but 
to be alone with his disciples. 

The time had now come for the disciples to 
know more about Jesus, who he was, the work that 
he was to do and what he was soon to suffer. His 
plan of teaching them was not to tell them, but to 
lead them on by questions so that they might learn 
the truth by finding it out themselves. One day, 
after he had been alone praying to his Father, he 
asked his disciples: 

"Tell me, who do the people say that I am?" 

"Some say that you are John the Baptist, 
raised up from the dead," answered the disciples; 
"others say that you are Elijah the prophet come 
to earth again; and still others say that you are 
the prophet Jeremiah or some other one of the old 
prophets." 

"But you, who do you say that I am?" asked Jesus. 

At once Simon Peter answered, for he was the one 
among the Twelve always ready to speak : 

249 




'But you, who do you sav that I am?" asked Jesus of Simon Peter. 



250 



Cfje (great Confession 



"You are the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the 
living God!" 

You know that the Jews everywhere were looking 
for a king to rule over them, set them free from the 
Roman power and make of them a great conquering 
nation. This king, in their own language, they called 
"the Messiah," which means, "the Anointed One," for 
in Israel a new king was chosen by having oil poured upon 
his head. The word "Messiah," in the Greek language, 
which was spoken everywhere, was "Christ," also mean- 
ing "The Anointed One." Peter, in speaking those 
words, "Thou art the Messiah, the Christ," meant to 
say that Jesus was the King of Israel, for whom all the 
people were looking. 

"You are a blessed man, Simon, son of Jonah," 
answered Jesus, "for no human being has made this 
known to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Yes, 
and I say to you, 'Your name is Peter — a Rock — and 
on this rock I will build my church; and all the powers 
of the underworld shall not succeed against it.' Also, 
Simon Peter, I will give to you the keys of the kingdom 
of heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth shall be for- 
bidden in heaven, and whatever you allow on earth shall 
be allowed in heaven." 

Because Simon Peter was the first to make this 
confession of Jesus as the Messiah-Christ, the King, he 
was given special honor among the followers of the 
Lord. You remember that more than a year before, 
when Jesus met Simon for the first time, beside the river 
Jordan, he gave him the new name Peter, which means 
"a rock." 

Then Jesus told the disciples that they were not to 
speak to any of the people of what Peter had said, that 
Jesus was the Christ, the King, for the time had not ye! 
come to make it public. But now, since they knew that 

251 



&\)t <§reat Confession 



he was to be a king and rule over Israel, he began for the 
first time to speak of certain other things, which they 
found very hard to understand. 

• Very soon," said Jesus, "we are going up to Jerusa- 
lem; and there I must endure great suffering from the 
rulers of the people, the chief priests and teachers of the 
law. I must be slain and buried ; and on the third day I 
shall rise again." 

The disciples could not understand how if he was to 
reign as King of Israel, it could be possible for him to 
suffer these things and to die. Peter took Jesus aside, 
where he could speak with him alone. 

"Master," said Peter, "you must not speak of such 
things. God will not allow these things to come to you. 
You are not going to be put to death in Jerusalem; you 
are going to Jerusalem to sit on the throne of David, 
and reign over the land!" 

But Jesus turned his back upon Peter, and looking 
upon his disciples, said: 

'Get away from me, Satan! You would turn me 
away from doing God's will! For you look at things, not 
as God looks at them, but as man does!" 

Jesus saw that in Peter's mind was the view of the 
kingdom that Satan had shown him in his great tempta- 
tion on the mountain, not as a kingdom of God, but as 
a kingdom such as men were expecting, a kingdom like 
those of the world. 

Then Jesus called to his disciples, and to the people 
that were around them, and said: 

"If any man has the will to come after me and be 
my disciple, let him give up his own will, and take up his 
cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life 
will lose it, and whoever for my sake loses his life shall 
find it. What good will it do to a man to gain the whole 
world if in gaining he loses his own life? What will a 
252 



l^fje #reat Confession 



man give that is worth as much as his life? For the Son 
of Man is coming in the glory of his Father with his 
angels; and then he will give to every man what his acts 
deserve. And I tell you truly, there are some standing 
here who will not die until they have seen the Son of Man 
coming to reign in his kingdom." 




Nazareth 



253 



$&-*? 






The three disciples beheld with wonder the change which had come over their 
Lord. His face shone with a glory so great they could not bear to look upon 
him, and beside him they saw standing the prophets, Moses and Elijah. 

254 



Qftje l^teton on tfje jfflountatn 

CHAPTER 48 

AT ONE time while Jesus was staying in one of the 
villages at the foot of Mount Hermon, in the far 
north of the land, he took with him three of his 
disciples, Peter, James and John, and went up the 
mountain to pray. It was in the afternoon, when they 
walked up the mountain, and when night came on he was 
still in prayer. The three disciples were tired from climb- 
ing the mountain and fell asleep for a little time. When 
they awoke they were filled with wonder at the change 
which had come over their Lord. 

Although it was night, they saw the face of Jesus 
shining as brightly as the sun at noon, with a dazzling 
glory so great that they could not bear to look upon him. 
His clothes too were shining white and glittering. Not 
only his face, but his hands, his feet and even his body 
1 teamed through his garments with brightness. 

They saw standing beside Jesus in his splendor two 
men who had lived long before on the earth and were 
now living no more. How the disciples knew them we 
are not told. Perhaps the knowledge flashed upon their 
minds, given them by God; or it may have been that 
as they listened to these two men, they learned from their 
words who they were. One was the great prophet Moses, 
who led the Israelites out of Egypt and died on Mount 
Nebo; the other was the prophet Elijah, who spoke bold 
words to the wicked King Ahab and was taken up to 
heaven in a chariot of fire. Both these men had passed 
from earth many hundred years before. 

As the three disciples looked and listened, they could 



Cfje Vision on tfje jflountatn 



hear what these two prophets of the old times were saying. 
They were talking to Jesus about his death which was 
to take place at Jerusalem. So these two great men of 
the past knew already what Jesus had tried to tell his 
disciples, and what they were so slow to believe, that he 
was soon to die! 

Peter was always eager to speak, and he spoke now, 
though he scarcely understood what his own words meant. 




Mount Hermon — the Mount of the Transfiguration 

" Master," he said, "this is a good place for us to 
stay in. If you are willing, I will make here three tents; 
one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. " 

He thought that the two prophets, Moses and Elijah, 
had come back to stay upon the earth; and that if tents 
were made for them, they would live upon that mountain. 

While Peter was speaking a bright and glorious 
cloud came over them all, over Jesus, over the two proph- 
ets and over the three disciples, who were filled with 
256 



&f)e Vision on tfje jttotmtatn 



fear as they found the cloud around them. And a greater 
fear came upon them as they heard the voice of God 
out of the cloud saying: 

"This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I delight. 
Listen to him!" 

And as they heard these words, knowing that God had 
spoken them, they fell down upon their faces in great ter- 
ror. Jesus came to them and touched them gently, saying : 

"Rise up, and do not be afraid." 

Then they looked up. The bright cloud had passed 
away, the two prophets were no longer to be seen, and 
Jesus was standing^ftone over them, some of the glory 
still remaining upon his face. 

As they were walking down the mountain, Jesus 
said to his three disciples, Peter, James and John: 

"Tell no one what you have seen this night, until 
the Son of Man has risen from the dead." 

So, much as they wished to tell their fellow-disciples 
of this wonderful sight, they obeyed their Master, and 
said not a word about it while Jesus was still with them. 

They said to Jesus, "How is it that the teachers of 
the law say that the prophet Elijah must come before 
the Messiah-King appears?" 

"Elijah does come," answered Jesus, "and he pre- 
pares the way for the coming of the King. And I tell 
you that Elijah has already come, but the people have not 
known him. They would not listen to him, and have 
done to him as they pleased. And just as it was with 
him, so will it be with the Son of Man. He shall also 
suffer at the hands of men." 

Then the disciples understood that Jesus was speak- 
ing to them of John the Baptist, who like Elijah had lived 
in the wilderness, wore a mantle of skin, and fed on desert- 
food, and who, like Elijah, gave God's message to the 
people, preparing the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. 
17 257 




As Jesus and his three disciples came down to the village at the foot of Mt. 

Hcrmon, a man eagerly besought him to cast an evil 

spirit out of his son. 



258 



Qtfje pop fcpttfj tfje JSumb Spirit 

CHAPTER 49 

WHEN JESUS and his three disciples came to the 
village at the foot of the mountain, they found 
a great crowd gathered around the other nine 
disciples, and some of the Jewish teachers of the law, the 
scribes, talking with them very earnestly. Some of the 
glory of the last night still lingered upon the face of Jesus, 
and as the people looked upon him, they were filled with 
wonder and bowed down before him. 

Out of the crowd came a man running, whose face 
showed that he was in great trouble. He knelt before 
Jesus and cried out : 

" Teacher, I brought to you my son, in whom is an 
evil spirit, which has made him dumb. I pray you have 
mercy on him, and cure him, for he is my only child. 
Often the spirit seizes him and dashes him down. It 
makes him foam at the mouth and grind his teeth. He 
is wasting away, and I fear will die unless help comes to 
him. I brought him here, hoping to find you. But 
you were away, and I spoke to these men, your disciples. 
They tried to cast out the evil spirit, but they could not. 
Now that you have come, will you not help me?" 

"O you people who will not believe, and who turn 
away from God!" said Jesus, "how long must I be with 
you? How long must I have patience with you? Bring 
your boy to me." 

They brought the boy to Jesus; but no sooner did 
the boy see him, than the wicked spirit threw him into a 
spasm. He fell on the ground, his body twitching and 
tearing; and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 

259 



tEfje pop toitf) tfje ©umb Spirit 

"How long has he been like this?" asked Jesus of the 
boy's father. 

" Ever since he was a little child," the man answered, 
"and it has many times thrown him into fire and into 
water, almost killing him. If you can do anything, do 
take pity on us both and help us." 

" 'If I can!' " said Jesus, taking up the man's word. 
" Do you not know that all things can be done for the one 
who believes?" 

"I do believe," cried out the father of the boy. 
"0 Master, help my lack of faith!" 

Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering around, 
and he spoke to the evil spirit. 

"Deaf and dumb spirit," he said, "I command you 
at once come out of this boy, and never again trouble 
him!" 

With a loud cry, the evil spirit threw the boy into a 
violent spasm of pain and then left him. The boy lay 
on the ground, looking like "a corpse. In fact, many who 
were standing near, as they saw him, said, "The boy is 
surely dead!" 

But Jesus took his hand, lifting him from the ground. 
The boy stood up and walked away well, free from the 
evil spirit and able to speak. 

When Jesus was alone with his disciples in the house, 
they asked him, "Why was it that we could not drive 
out the evil spirit from the boy?" 

"It was because you have so little faith. I tell you 
that if your faith were only the size of a grain of mustard- 
seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from this 
place to that,' and move it would; for nothing would 
be impossible to you." 

But he added, "An evil spirit of this kind is harder 
to drive away than most. Only by special prayer can it 
be cast out." 
260 



Wbe pop tottf) tfje ®umb Spirit 

Soon after this Jesus left that place at the foot of 
the mountain, and led his disciples toward the south. 
They saw that he was now going in the direction of 
Jerusalem, and were quite sure that there he would set 
up his throne and kingdom. But Jesus knew what they 
were thinking of, and he said to them, 

" Listen carefully to my words. The Son of Man is 
to be given into the hands of his enemies. They shall 
kill him, and three days after he has been killed, he shall 
rise again to life." 

But the disciples could not understand these words, 
for they would not believe that he was to die, and they 
were afraid to ask him what these sayings meant. 



• ~9 wBbm rr 



The Jordan near Dan 



2G1 



®fje Hast Vi&it to Capernaum 

CHAPTER 50 

WHILE JESUS was passing through Galilee for 
the last time, he wished not to do in that land 
any more wonderful works or to give any further 
teachings in public. He desired not to have crowds 
around him, but to be alone with his disciples, for there 
were many things to be told them before he should be 
taken away from them. 

As they were on their way to Capernaum, which 
had been his home during the year before, he saw that 
his disciples as they walked were having some dispute or 
quarrel. He well knew what the} r were saying to each 
other, for he knew all things; but at the time he said 
nothing. 

He came to Capernaum, for the first time followed by 
no crowd, but with his twelve disciples only. In the eve- 
ning, as they sat together in the house, he said to them : 

"What was it that you were talking about today 
as we were walking on the road?" 

The disciples looked at each other, a little ashamed, 
and at first did not speak. Finally, one of them said : 

"We were asking each other who of us should hold 
the first place in your kingdom." 

Although Jesus had more than once told these men 
that he must suffer and die, they did not believe it. They 
saw that he was on his way toward Jerusalem, and like 
all the people who believed in him, they thought that 
when he came to that city, he would take his kingdom and 
rule; and each of his disciples wanted a place for himself 
next the throne. 
202 



Cjje Ha&t Utsitt to Capernaum 



"The first place!" answered Jesus. "If any of you 
has the will to be first in the kingdom of heaven, that one 
shall be the last of all and shall serve all the others!" 

A little child was playing near him, for the children 
were never afraid of Jesus and loved to be with him. 
Jesus reached out his hand, took the child in his arms and 
held it close to him. Then he said to his disciples: 

"I tell you, un- 
less you change your 
spirit and become 
like little children, 
you will not enter 
into the kingdom of 
heaven at all ! Who- 
ever of you will be- 
come humble and 
gentle, like this little 
child, not seeking 
great things for 
himself, that is the 
one who shall be 
the greatest in the 
kingdom of heaven. 
And any one who 
helps even a little 
child to be one of 
my followers is 
helping me. But if 
anyone puts a snare or stumbling-block in the way of one 
of these little ones, to keep him from following me, it 
would be better for that man to have a great millstone 
hung on his neck, and to be thrown into the deep sea! 
Woe to the world on account of snares and hindrances, 
keeping men away from God and from salvation! There 
must be these snares and hindrances, that cannot be 

263 




Whoever will become like this little child, shall be 
the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven 



®f)E last ^Jisiit to Capernaum 



helped; but woe to the man who puts them in the 
way ! 

"If your hand or your foot becomes a snare to you, 
keeping you from God, you must cut it off and throw it 
away. It is better for you to enter into life a cripple, 
and with only one hand, than with two hands or two 
feet, to go away to everlasting death. And if your eye 
would lead you to forsake God, pluck it out and throw it 
away. It is better for you to be saved having only one 
eye, than to be lost having two eyes. 

"I tell you, never despise or think lightly of one of 
these little ones; for I say to you, their angels always 
see the face of my Father who is in heaven." 

Then John, one of the disciples, said: 

" Teacher, we saw a man who is not one of your 
followers using your name to cast out evil spirits; and 
we told him not to use your name, since he is not with us." 

"Do not forbid him," said Jesus, " there is no man 
who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able also 
to speak against me. Whoever is not against us is for 
us. Why, if any one will give you even a cup of water 
to drink, because you belong to Christ, I tell you truly, 
that man shall not fail of having a reward." 

At that time Jesus told his disciples how to treat 
those who had done them any wrong. He said: 

"If your brother does wrong, go to him and speak 
to him about it when you are alone with him. If he 
listens to you, then you have won your brother. But 
if he will not listen, take with you one or two others, 
and talk with him again, that there may be at least two 
witnesses in every case. If he will not listen to these 
men, speak to the church; and if he refuses to listen to 
the church, then have nothing more to do with/ him, but 
treat him as a stranger, as the people treat those who 
collect the taxes for the Romans. 
264 



GTfje lUstf IrTtsitt to Capernaum 



"I tell you, my disciples, that whatever you forbid 
on earth shall be forbidden by those in heaven; and 
whatever you allow on earth shall be allowed by those 
in heaven. I tell you another thing: if two of you shall 
agree on earth upon anything that they ask in prayer, 
it shall be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. 
For where two or three have come together in my name, 
I am there among them." 

Then Peter came up to Jesus and asked him a ques- 
tion. It was this: 

"Master, how often should I forgive my brother 
when he has done me wrong? Shall it be as many as 
seven times?" 

"Seven times?" said Jesus. "No, I say, seventy 
times seven! For the kingdom of heaven may be com- 
pared to a king who wished to have his servants pay 
him the debts which they owed him. When he had 
begun to make up their accounts, one servant was 
brought before him who owed him more than a million 
dollars. He could not pay his debt, and his master 
ordered that he should be sold, and his wife and 
children with him, and everything that he had, toward 
the payment of his debt. The servant fell down upon 
his face before him, and said, 'Only have patience 
with me, my lord, and I will pay it all.' His master 
knew that he could never pay so great a debt; he felt 
a pity for him, and let him go free, forgiving him all 
that he owed. 

"But as he was going away, that servant met one 
of his fellow-servants who owed him a small debt, only 
about fifteen dollars. He took him by the throat, and 
said, 'Pay me what you owe me!' The man threw 
himself on the ground and begged for mercy, crying out, 
'Have patience with me, wait a little while, and I will 
pay all that I owe you.' But he refused to have mercy; 

265 



&\)t Hast 'Visit to Capernaum 



he took him into the court and had him put into prison 
until he should pay the debt. 

"When the other servants saw him sending this 
man to prison, the}' felt troubled and told the king 
what he had done. At this the king became very angry. 
He sent for that cruel servant and said to him, 'You 
wicked servant ! When you asked me for mercy,. I gave 
to you all your great debt and let you go free! Should 
not you, also, have shown the same kindness to your 
fellow-servant that I showed to you?' Then his master, 
being very angry, handed him over to the jailor, to be 
kept in a dungeon until he should pay the whole of 
his debt. So also will my Father in heaven do to you, 
unless you forgive your brother with all your heart." 

While Jesus was at this time in Capernaum, the 
officer who collected from the Jews the tax for the 
Temple came to Peter and said: 

"Does not your Master pay the Temple tax?" 

"Yes," answered Peter. 

But when he went into the house, before he could 
speak, Jesus said to him, 

"Tell me, Simon, from whom do the kings of this 
world take taxes? From their sons, or from foreigners?" 

"From foreigners," answered Peter. 

"Then their own people are free from being taxed, 
are they not? We are the sons of God, and we should 
be free from the tax for the house of God. However, in 
order not to displease them, do you go to the sea, throw 
in a hook and take the first fish that comes up; open 
its mouth, and you will find in it a piece of silver money. 
Take that and give it to the tax collectors for you 
and me." 



206 



0oob=fape to Galilee 

CHAPTER 51 

WHILE JESUS was still in Capernaum, the fall 
of the year came on, and with it the time 
drew near for the Jewish Feast of Tents, or 
Feast of Tabernacles. In the Bible, the word " taber- 
nacles" always means " tents." This feast was called 
"the Feast of the Tents" because every year the people 
who went up to Jerusalem to attend it lived for a week 
in little tents or huts made of green branches; to keep 
in mind the forty years, long before, when, after coming- 
out of Egypt, the Israelites lived in the desert in tents, 
moving from place to place. 

The younger brothers of Jesus, the sons of Joseph 
and Mary, heard that Jesus was in Capernaum; and 
they came to see him. At this time these brothers of 
Jesus did not believe in him as their King and Saviour; 
although afterward they were among his followers. 
These men said to Jesus: 

"Why do you not go to Judea and Jerusalem and 
let your disciples see there what you can do? No one 
who wishes to be known stays in a place apart from 
the people. Since you can do these great works, you 
should show yourself to the world." 

"My time," said Jesus, "has not come yet; but 
your time is always here. The world is not against 
you, but it is against me, because I speak against its 
evil deeds. Go yourselves up to the feast; I am not 
going as 3'et up to this feast, because my time has not 
yet come." 

Jesus did not wish to have as his companions at 

267 



<©oob=bpe to Galilee 



the feast men who did not believe in him, even though 
they were his brothers. So, while his brothers went on 
to Jerusalem, he stayed a little longer in Galilee. Before 
he left the city of Capernaum he gave one last call and 
warning to its people and those in the cities near by. 
He spoke to those who lived in Chorazin, a town only 
a few miles from Capernaum; and those in Bethsaida, 




Christ's call to the sick and weary: "Come unto me, all ye who labor 
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 

five miles away, at the head of the lake. He said to 
these cities: 

"Woe unto you, Chorazin! and woe to you, Beth- 
saida! If the mighty works that were done in you 
had been done in the cities of Tyre and Sidon, long 
before this time they would have turned from sin to 
God, weeping in rough garments, with ashes on their 
heads! I tell you that when God comes to judge the 
lands, it will be harder for Chorazin and Bethsaida than 
208 



<©oob=&2>e to (Saltlee 



for Tyre and Sidon. And you, Capernaum, shall you 
be lifted up to heaven? No, you will sink down to 
death. For if the great works that were done in you 
had been done in Sodom, that city would have lasted 
until today. But I say to you, it will be easier for 
Sodom in God's day of judgment than for you, 
Capernaum!" 

At the same time Jesus spoke these words also: 

"I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and 
earth, for hiding these things from the wise and the 
learned, and for making them known to those who are 
child-like in spirit. Yes, Father, I praise thee that this 
has been the way that thou hast chosen. 

"All power has been given to me by the Father; 
and no one can fully know the Son except the Father; 
and no one fully knows the Father except the Son, and 
he to whom the Son will make him known. 

"Come unto me, all ye who labor and are heavy- 
laden with your troubles; and I will give you rest. 
Take upon you the yoke that I bear, and learn from 
me how to live; for I am gentle and lowly-minded, and 
you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy 
and my load is light." 

With these words Jesus left Capernaum and Galilee 
for the last time. 




But one of the ten men when he found that he was a leper no longer, stopped 

and praised God with a loud voice, and ran to Jesus' feet, 

giving him thanks for his cure. 

270 



passing ^fjrougf) Samaria 

CHAPTER 52 

A FTER MOST of those who were going up to Jeru- 

ZA salem for the Feast of Tents had left Capernaum, 

Jesus began his journey with his disciples. All 

who saw him going toward Jerusalem, and even his 

disciples, thought that now he was surely on his way 

to take his throne and rule the people as king of Israel. 

Just as they were starting, a man who was one 
of the teachers of the law came to Jesus and said: 

" Master, I will follow you wherever you may go." 
He thought that by following Jesus he might have some 
high place in his kingdom. But Jesus saw that this 
man was following him only for gain. He said to him: 

"You will gain nothing by following me. The foxes 
have holes, and the wild birds have their nests; but 
the Son of Man has not a place where he can lay his 
head." 

To another man, Jesus said, "Follow me!" The 
man answered, "First let me go and bury my father." 

Jesus said to this man, "Let those who are dead 
bury their dead; but do you go and spread everywhere 
the news of the kingdom of God." 

Jesus meant by this that such matters as the burial 
of the dead could be cared for by others, even though 
they did not have a knowledge of the truth which gives 
life; but Jesus wanted this man to go at once and 
preach his gospel. 

There was another man who said to Jesus, "I will 
follow you; but let me first go and say 'good-bye' to 
my friends at my home." 

271 



passing GTfjrougf) Samaria 



" Whoever looks back," answered Jesus, " after he 
has put his hand to the plough is of no use for the 
kingdom of God." 

For his work Jesus wanted men who were single- 
hearted, giving up all, that they might follow and serve 
him. 

On this journey to Jerusalem Jesus did not take 
the road down the Jordan valley, the way usually fol- 
lowed. He made up his mind this time to go through 
Samaria, perhaps because he did not wish to have a 
crowd of peop e with him, and few of the Jews went 
to Jerusalem by way of Samaria. 

As he drew near a Samaritan village, he sent some 
of his disciples to find in it a lodging place. But the 
Samaritan people would not allow Jesus and his dis- 
ciples to come into their village, because they saw that 
they were Jews on their way to Jerusalem. The Samari- 
tans and the Jews hated each other and would not show 
kindness to one another. 

James and John, two of the disciples, were exceed- 
ingly angry at these people, who would shut out their 
Master. They said to him: 

"Lord, shall we call down fire from heaven, as the 
prophet Elijah did, and burn up that wicked village?" 

But Jesus said to them, "Your spirit is not right. 
I did not come to destroy the lives of men, but to save 
them. Let us go to some other village." 

While he was still on the border of Galilee and 
Samaria, as he was going into a village, he met ten men 
who had the terrible disease of leprosy. They stood at 
a distance, for lepers were not allowed to come near 
people; and they cried aloud, saying: 

"Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 

"Go," answered Jesus, "and show yourselves to 
the priests." 
272 



flatting Wjrougf) Samaria 



In the Temple was a room where a man went who 
had any disease like leprosy, with a breaking out upon 
his skin. At this room he was kept for a time; and 
if it was found that his disease was not leprosy, after 
certain offerings and washings, he was allowed to go 
home and be among men. These men started for their 
Temple; those who were Jews for the Temple in Jeru- 
salem, any that were Samaritans for their Temple on 
Mount Gerizim, near the city of Shechem. As they 
went, and by going showed their faith in Jesus, they 
found all at once that their leprosy was gone and they 
were entirely well. 

Nine of these ten men, after they were cured, went 
on their way toward the Temple. But one of them, 
when he found that he was a leper no longer, stopped, 
with a loud voice praised God; and ran to Jesus' feet 
and fell on his face before him, giving him thanks for 
his cure. This man was a Samaritan. 

"Were there not ten men cured?" said Jesus. 
"But where are the nine? Was there only one to turn 
back and give thanks to God, and that one a stranger?" 

And Jesus said to this grateful Samaritan, "Rise 
up, and go your way; your faith has made you well." 



273 




priest and the Levite walked past on the other side, but the Samaritan felt 
pi'y for the poor man lying in the road and came down and poured 
oil on his wounds and bandaged them. 



271 



W$t ikttfce'S ©uesttton; anb 
Jliarp'g Ctjotce 

CHAPTER 53 

WHILE JESUS was on his way to Jerusalem one 
of the teachers of the law — whom the Jews 
called " scribes" — came to him with a question. 
These Jewish scribes were everywhere enemies of Jesus, 
and were continually asking him questions, not that 
they might learn, but that in some way they might 
give him trouble. 

This scribe said to Jesus, " Teacher, what shall I 
do that I may have the life everlasting?" 

"What is said in God's law?" answered Jesus. 
"What do you read there?" 

He answered, "You must love the Lord your God 
with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your 
strength, and with all your mind; and you must love 
your neighbor as yourself." 

"That is a right answer," said Jesus; "do that and 
you shall live." 

But the scribe, wishing to make an excuse for him- 
self, and thinking to puzzle Jesus, said, "But who is 
my neighbor?" 

Then Jesus told to this man the parable or story 
of "The Good Samaritan." 

"There was once a man," said Jesus, "who was 
going down by a lonely road from Jerusalem to Jericho. 
The robbers who hide among the mountains in that 
region rushed at this man, stripped him of everything, 
and beat him near to death; then ran away and left 

275 



®fje Scribe's (Suesition 



him almost dead on the roadside. It happened that a 
priest was going down the* same road. He saw the 
man Lying there, but instead of coming to help him, 
walked past him on the other side of the road. Then 
a Levite, one of those who help the priests in the services 
of the Temple, came to that place; and he too Avent by 
on the other side, carefully keeping away from the 
suffering man. 

"But soon after, a Samaritan, one of those people 
whom all the Jews hate and despise, came down the 
same road. This man, when he found the poor man 
lying in the road, got off from the ass on which he was 
riding and stood. over the man. He felt a pity for the 
sufferer and put bandages on his wounds, after pouring 
into them a little oil and wine. Then he lifted up the 
man and carefully placed him on his own ass, and 
walking by his side, brought him to an inn and cared 
for him all that night. On the next morning he took 
out from his purse two pieces of silver, handed them 
to the inn-keeper and said to him, "Look after this 
man until he is well; and if you spend more than this, 
I will repay it to you when I come this way again." 

"Now," asked Jesus, "which one of these three men, 
the priest, the Levite and the Samaritan, do you think 
showed himself a true neighbor to the poor fellow who 
fell among the robbers?" 

The scribe answered, "The one who showed kindness 
to him." 

Jesus said to him, "Then go and do as this man 
did." He meant to show the scribe that "our neighbor" 
is the one who most needs our help, whoever he may be. 

When Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, he did not at 
once culer the city and find a lodging place within its 
walls, for he knew well that it was filled with his enemies; 
and that the priests and rulers would try to seize him 
276 




'Martha, Martha," replied the Lord, "you are anxious and troubled about a 
great many things." 



277 



Z\)t Scribe'* (Question 



and put him to death. He expected after some months 
to die at Jerusalem, as he had so many times told his 
disciples — although the}' could not believe it — but the 
time for his death had not yet come. For a home while 
attending the Feast of Tents, he went to a village about 
two miles from Jerusalem, on the east of the Mount of 
Olives. This village was called Bethany, and in it was 
living a family all of whom were strong friends of Jesus: 
Martha, her sister Mary and their younger brother 
Lazarus. With this family he staj^ed while he was visit- 
ing Jerusalem. 

Martha was the older sister and the head of the 
house She gave Jesus a hearty welcome and made 
herself busy in attending to his needs. But Mary, her 
younger sister, left everything and seated herself at the 
feet of the Lord, eager to listen to his words. Martha, 
somewhat worried by her many cares, especially in mak- 
ing ready a dinner for Jesus, was not pleased at her 
sister's conduct. She came to Jesus and said: 

"Lord, do you think it right for my sister to leave 
all the work to me? Tell her to help me." 

" Martha, Martha," replied the Lord, "you are 
anxious and trouble yourself about a great many things. 
Only one thing is really needful. Mary has chosen the 
best dish, and she will not be dragged away from it." 

Jesus meant to say that Martha need not prepare 
a dinner with many dishes, for he needed only a simple 
meal; and that Mary had chosen well instead of food 
the words that he was speaking, which were really a 
feast to her soul. 

At one time Jesus was praying in a certain place. 
It may have been on the Mount of Olives, between 
Bethany and Jerusalem, for Jesus went there often to 
pray. When his prayer was over, the disciples came 
to him and said: 
278 



tEfje i£>crtbe'g ©uestton 



"Master, John the Baptist taught his disciples how 
to pray. Will you not also give us a prayer that we 
may use?" 

Jesus said to them, "I will give you this prayer. 
When you pray, say, 'Our Father, who art in heaven; 
Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy 
will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us day 
by day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as 
we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into tempta- 
tion, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, 
and the power, and the glory, for ever and forever. 
Amen.' " 

Jesus also gave to his disciples a parable or story 
about earnestness in prayer. He said: 

" Suppose that one of you who has a friend should 
go to his house in the middle of the night, and should 
knock at his door loud enough to wake him from his 
sleep, and should say to him, ' Friend, please do get up 
and let me have three loaves of bread ! A friend of mine 
has suddenly come to my house and I have nothing for 
him to eat;' and suppose the other should answer him 
from inside the door, 'Don't bother me; the door is 
locked and I am in bed with my children. I can't gee 
up and give you anything!' I tell you, though he will 
not get up and give you anything merely because you 
are a friend of his, if you keep on knocking long enough, 
he will at last rise and give you whatever you want, 
because you persevere in seeking after it. 

" So, I say to you: ask, and the gilt shall be yours; 
seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door will be 
opened to you. For every one who asks, receives; he 
that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks, the door shall 
be opened. 

"Is there a father among you, who if his son asks 
for bread, will give him a stone? If he is asked for a 

279 



tCfje Scribe's (Question 



fish, will he give his son a snake? Or, if asked for an 
egg, will he give him a scorpion? If you then, even not 
as good as you should be, are willing to give good things 
to your children, how much more will your Father in 
heaven give this Holy Spirit to his children that ask 
him?" 




This massive ancient wall is known as the Wailing Place. Here 

the Jews of Jerusalem come to mourn over the 

splendor of Israel that is no more 



280 



3ft£<u£f at tfje Jfeaat of Nentsi 

CHAPTER 54 

A T THE TIME when Jesus came to Jerusalem, the 

Z_k Feast of Tents was half over. Many had been 

looking for him, for all through the land he was 

talked about. At the Feast the people were saying, 

"Where is he? Has he come up to the Feast?" 

Some said, "He is a good man." Others said, 
"No, he cannot be a good man, for he is leading the 
people away from the law of Moses." But no one 
spoke freely about him, for fear of the rulers and the 
people of Jerusalem whose minds had been set against 
Jesus by the priests and the scribes or teachers of the 
law. 

From his home in Bethany at Martha's house, 
Jesus came quietly into the Temple and began teaching 
the people who gathered there during the Feast, going 
out at evening to Bethany. All who heard him won- 
dered at his words, and every day the crowds around 
him grew. People said to each other, "How did this 
man get all his knowledge? He has never studied in 
the college of the scribes." 

"My teaching," said Jesus in answer, "is not my 
own; but it comes from Him who sent me. Any one 
who chooses to do God's will, will know whether I speak 
in God's name, or whether I am talking in my own name. 
Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you hon- 
estly tries to keep the law. If you did try to keep the 
law, you would not try to kill me!" 

The crowd replied to Jesus, "You are crazy! Who 
is trying to kill you?" 

281 



fesusi at tfje Jfeasit of Nentsi 



But Jesus know that he was speaking the truth, 
for he knew what was in the minds of the rulers and of 
many in Jerusalem. He said to the crowd: 

"I will be with you only a little longer, and then I 
am going to him who sent me. You will look for me, 

but you will not 
find me, and where 
I am going, you 
cannot come." 

"Where is this 
man going," said 
the Jews, "that we 
cannot find him? 
Is he going among 
our people in foreign 
lands, to teach the 
foreigners ? What 
does he mean b} r 
words like these?" 
Jesus meant 
that after they 
should kill him and 
he should rise from 
the tomb and live 
again, he was going 
back to his home 
in heaven, a place 
to which they could 
never come. 




' If any man thirst, let him come unt< 
and drink " 



The last and greatest day of the Feast of Tents 
came. On that day they brought water into the Temple 
and poured it out, amid great rejoicing; calling to mind 
how God had given water from the rock to the Israelites 
in the desert. 

In the midst of the pouring out of the water, 
282 



fesu* at tfte jfeast of {Cent* 



Jesus cried with a very loud voice, so that .all heard 
him: 

"If any one is thirsty/' he said, "let him come to 
me and drink! He who believes in me, out of him 
shall flow rivers of living water!" 

Some of the people, when they heard this, said, 
"This must be really the Prophet who is to come!" 

Others said, "This is the Christ, the King of 
Israel!" 

But there were those who said, "No, this cannot be 
Christ the King, for this man comes from Galilee, and 
the Bible says that Christ is to come from the line of 
King David and from David's town of Bethlehem." 

These people knew that Jesus came to them from 
Galilee, but they did not know that he had been born 
in Bethlehem and belonged to the royal line of David. 
They were divided over Jesus: some thought that he 
was their promised king, while others wanted to seize 
him as a teacher of falsehood. The rulers sent out 
officers to make him their prisoner, but somehow no 
man dared to lay hands upon him. 

When the officers came back to the chief priests 
and leading men, they were asked, "Why did you not 
bring this man with you?" 

The officers answered, "No man ever spoke as this 
man speaks!" 

"What! has this man led you astray, too?" said 
the rulers. "Have any of the leading men, or the 
Pharisees, believed in him? As for this crowd who know 
nothing of the law, they are of no account!" 

Nicodemus, that one of the rulers who a year before 
had come by night to talk with Jesus, said to them: 

"Surely our law does not allow any man to be 
treated as guilty before hearing what he has to say and 
finding out what he has done!" 

283 



Jesusi at tfje Jfeasit of ftentg 



"Are you too from Galilee, like all the followers 
of this man?" they answered him. " Search, and you 
will find that no prophet ever comes from Galilee." 

In the evening all the people went to their homes, 
and Jesus went over the Mount of Olives to his friends 
at Bethany. 




View of Bethany 



284 



fesus anb tfje Sinful TOoman 

CHAPTER 55 

AFTER THE Feast of Tents Jesus stayed near Jeru- 
salem, making his home in Bethany, for nearly 
two months, until another feast came, the Feast 
of the Dedication of the Temple. About two hundred 
years before that time, the Temple had been held by 
enemies, who had stopped the services, had set up 
images in the building and had done many things to 
make it vile. At last the enemies were driven away; 
and then the Jews made the Temple clean again, 
destroyed the images and began once more the regular 
service. After this, every year they kept the day of 
the reopening of the Temple as "The Feast of the 
Dedication." At this feast the Temple was lighted up 
every night very brightly, and on that account the 
feast was also called "The Feast of Lights." 

During the days of his stay, Jesus went often to 
the Temple and sat down in a room called "The Court 
of the Women," because on one side of it was a gallery 
where the women worshipped, looking down on the 
services at the altar. It was also called "The Treasury" 
on account of the gift-boxes on its walls, where people 
dropped in their money for the poor and for the sup- 
port of the Temple. In this court, which was very 
large, and open to the sky, without a roof, the Jewish 
teachers held their classes for the study of the law; 
and many came to Jesus to listen to his words. 

One morning the teaching of -Jesus was interrupted 
by a noise in the court. Some of the scribes and 
Pharisees, who were enemies of Jesus, planned to get 

285 




Jesus replied (o the accusers of (ho sinful woman: "Let the one among you who 
has never done wrong throw the first stone at her." 



280 



3fe*u£ anb tfje Sinful OTomatt 



him into trouble with the Roman rulers. They came, 
dragging in a poor woman who had done a wicked deed; 
and bringing her forward directly in front of Jesus. 

"Teacher/' they said, "this woman was caught in 
a wicked act. Now, Moses in the law commands that 
any person committing that crime shall be stoned to 
death; but what do you say should be done with her?" 

Jesus very well knew that they had brought this 
question to him hoping, whatever he said, to make 
trouble for him. If he should say, "Let her go free," 
they would declare that Jesus was a breaker of the 
law and cared nothing for crimes. If, on the other 
hand, he said, "Let her be punished," they could say 
to the Roman rulers, "This man is acting as a judge 
and claims to be the King of Israel;" and this might 
cause the Romans to put him to death. So, whatever 
Jesus might say, they could find some reason to accuse him. 

But Jesus seemed to pay no attention to their words. 
He stooped down, and began to write with his finger 
on the floor. But as they kept on asking him the same 
question, finally he rose up, looked his enemies full in 
the face, and said: 

"Let the one among you who has never done wrong 
throw the first stone at her." 

Then he stooped down again and continued writing 
with his finger. They stood silent for some time and 
then began quietly to go away, the oldest men first 
and the younger men later. After a while, Jesus looked 
up and saw the woman standing alone before him. He 
rose up and said: 

"Woman, where are those men? Does no man 
say that you are guilty?" 

She answered him, "No man, Lord." 

Jesus said to her, "Neither do I call you guilty. 
Go away, and never sin again." 

287 



HTeSuS anb tfje Sinful TOioman 



Then Jesus went on with his teaching, which had 
been stopped by the bringing in of the woman by his 
enemies. He said: 

"I am the light of the whole world. He who fol- 
lows me and 
obeys my words 
will not walk in 
darkness, but 
shall have the 
light of life." 

Many other 
things Jesus said 
to the people at 
that time ; and 
some of those 
who heard him 
began to believe 
that he was a 
teacher come 
from God. To 
those who be- 
lieved, he said: 

"If you 

stand faithful to 

. my words, you 

I am the light of the whole world. He who fol- J J 

lows me and obeys my words will not walk in are truly my IOl- 
darkness, but shall have the light of life " lowers " and VOU 

shall understand the truth, and the truth shall make 
you free." 

"What do you mean by those words, 'You shall 
be made free'? said the people. "We are sprung from 
Abraham, and have never been slaves. How can we 
be made free?" 

"In very truth, I tell you," answered Jesus, "every 
one who sins is a slave. Now the s.ave does not stay 
288 




Jesu* anb the Sinful OToman 



in the home always, but the son stays, for it is his home, 
and he has a right to be there. So, if the Son of the 
heavenly Father sets you free from sin, you will be free 
indeed." 

As Jesus went on speaking, the people who listened 
became very angry. At last he said: 

"Your great father Abraham longed to see the day 
when I should come to the earth; and he saw it com- 
ing, and it made him glad." 

"Why," the Jews said, "you are not fifty years old, 
and do you say that Abraham saw you?" 

"I tell you truly," answered Jesus, "before Abraham 
was born, I was living!" 

At this, they picked up stones to throw at him; 
but Jesus hid himself from them and left the Temple. 




The so-called tower of David in Jerusalem 



289 



ftfje Plinb jlan at tlje $ool 
of i£>tloam 

CHAPTER 56 

ON A SABBATH morning, which was not Sunday, 
but Saturday, the Jewish day of rest and church- 
going — Jesus and his disciples were on their 
way to the service in the Temple, when they passed a 
blind man. They had seen this man before and knew 
that he had been blind all his life. He had come into 
the world without eyesight, to the great sorrow of his 
father and mother; and he lived upon the little coins 
that people gave him as they were on their way to the 
Temple. 

The Jews believed that every disease was caused 
by some act of sin; that if a man became ill, it was 
because he had done some wicked deed and was being 
punished for it; and if a child was born blind, or dumb, 
or crippled, it must have been because either its father 
or mother had sinned against God's law. Some of the 
scribes, who were the teachers of the law, said that each 
soul lived many times on the earth; that when a man 
died, his soul went into a body that was born at that 
moment ; and if the new-born baby was blind, or diseased, 
it was because it had done wrong in some life before that 
one. None of these things are believed now since Christ 
has taught men, but they were held by nearly all people 
while Jesus was on the earth. 

As the disciples were passing by this blind man, one 
of them said to Jesus: 

" Teacher, whose sin was it that caused this man to 
290 



®f)e pitnb jfflan at tfje $ool 



be born blind? Was it the fault of his parents? Or was 
it his own fault?" 

"It was through no fault of his, nor of his father 
or mother that this man was born blind/' answered 
Jesus. "It was that God might show a wonderful 
work in him. While daylight lasts, we must be 
doing God's work; the night will soon come when we 
can work no longer. As long as I am in the world I 
am the light of the world, and give light to men." 

As he said 
this, he spat 
on the ground 
and mixed the 
spittle with 
dust, making 
it into mud, 
and smeared 
it on the 
man's eyes. 
He said to 
the blind 
man: 

" Now, go 
down to the 
pool of Siloam 
and wash." 

The pool of Siloam was a large tank or reservoir on 
the southeast of the city, where the valley of the brook 
Kedron and the valley of Hinnom meet. To go to that 
place the blind man with two great blotches of mud on 
his face must walk across the city of Jerusalem, passing 
all the crowds on their way to worship. He went down 
to the pool of Siloam, climbed down its steps to the water 
and washed the mud from his face. In a moment his 
white, sightless eyes flashed with a new light. He looked 

291 




The Pool of Siloam at the present time 



Z\)t pltnb ittan at tfje $ool 



up, and for the first time in all his life he could 
see! 

As he went to his father's house, everybody who 
saw him noticed how differently he looked. All had 
known him as a blind man, groping his way to the place 
where he used to sit as a beggar. The people asked each 
other: 

" Is this the same blind man that begged in the street?" 

Some said, "Yes, this is the same man." 

But others said, "No, this cannot be the man; but 
he is one who looks somewhat like him." 

He said, "I am the same man." 

"Then how did you get your sight?" they asked. 

"The man whom they call Jesus," he answered, 
"made some mud and put it on my eyes, and said, 'Go 
to Siloam and wash your eyes.' So I went and washed 
them; and my sight came to me." 

"Where is this man who cured you?" they asked. 

"I do not know," he answered. 

They took the man who had been blind to the Phar- 
isees, who were the leaders of the people. We have seen 
that the Pharisees were always enemies to Jesus. So 
the Pharisees asked him to tell again how he had gained 
his sight; and he told them: 

"The man named Jesus smeared some mud on my 
eyes, and I washed them, and now I can see." 

Some of the Pharisees said, "This man Jesus cannot 
be from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath." 

The scribes had made a rule that mixing up mud on 
the Sabbath day was working; that carrying it from one 
place to another was bearing a load; and that to give 
any treatment to a sick man on the Sabbath, unless it was 
accessary to save his life, was Sabbath breaking. So 
to their eyes, Jesus in curing the blind man had broken 
the Sabbath rules in more than one way. 
292 



tCfte Pltnb jKan at tjje $oot 



But some others said, "How can a bad man do such 
wonderful works? Is not this work of cure a sign that 
God is with him?" 

So there were two parties among them in their 
opinion about Jesus. They asked the blind man again: 

"What do you say of this man who has opened your 
eyes?" 

"I say that he is a prophet from God," answered the 
man. 

Many of the Jews, however, would not believe that 
this man had been born blind and had gained his sight, 
until they sent for his father and mother. 

"Is this your son," they asked, "the son you say was 
born blind? How is it that now he can see?" 

"This is our son," his parents answered, "and he was 
born blind; of that we are sure. But how it is that he 
can see now, we do not know, nor do we know who opened 
his eyes. Ask him — he is old enough — he can speak for 
himself." 

His parents spoke in this way because they were 
afraid of the Jews, for the rulers had agreed that any 
one who said that Jesus was the Christ should be turned 
out of the church. That was why they had said, "He 
is old enough; ask him." So the Pharisees again sent 
for the man who had been blind, and said to him: 

"Give God all the praise for your sight; we know 
that this Jesus is a bad man." 

"I know nothing about his being a bad man; one 
thing I do know, that once I was blind, and now I can 
sec." 

"What did he do to you?" they asked. "How did 
he open your eyes?" 

"I have told you all about it already," he replied, 
"and it seems you do not listen. Why do you want to 
hear it again? Do you intend to be his disciples?" 

293 



©fje JBlinb iflan at tfje $oot 



Then they were in a rage at him, and said, "You 
may be his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses, and 
we obey his laws. We know that God spoke to Moses, 
but we do not know where this fellow comes from!" 

"Well, this is very strange!" answered the man. 
" You do not know where he comes from; and yet he has 
opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen 
to bad men; but if any man is God-fearing, and does 
God's will, that man God will hear. Since the world 
began, no one ever heard before of a man that could open 
the eyes of one born blind. If this Jesus were not of God, 
he could do nothing." 

"Are you trying to teach us?" they answered. 
"You, who were born a sinner?" 

Then they turned him out of the church; they for- 
bade him to sit in the meetings or to go into the Temple; 
and after that none of them would so much as speak to 
him. Jesus heard that he had been put out of the church ; 
he sought him out, and when he had found him, he asked: 

"Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 

"Tell me who he is," said the man, "and I will 
believe in him." 

"You have seen him," answered Jesus, "and it is 
he who is now speaking to you." 

The man said, "I do believe, Lord," and he fell 
on his face before him. 

And Jesus said, "I came into the world to put men 
to this test, in order that those who cannot see, and know 
they are blind as this man was, might be made to see; 
and that those who think they can see should remain 
blind." 

Some of the Pharisees who heard this knew that it 
was a rebuke to them, because they failed to see in 
Jesus one sent from God. They said: 

"Then are we blind, too!" 
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Cfje Plinb jfflan at tfje $ooi 



"If you were really blind," said Jesus, "you would 
have no sin to answer for; but as it is, you say, 'We can 
see ' and so your sin remains against you." 

Again the Jews were divided over the words of 
Jesus. Some said, "He is crazy! Why listen to him?" 

But others said, "These are not the words of a 
crazy man. Can a man who is crazy open the eyes of a 
blind man?" 






The modern village of Siloam 



295 



CHAPTER 57 

AT THE SIDE of the Temple buildings toward the 
L\ east stood a long balcony or archway, roofed over, 
with a row of pillars on each side. It was called 
" Solomon's Porch." On the eastern side it looked over 
the valley of the brook Kedron, and beyond the valley 
to the Mount of Olives. In the west it fronted on the 
great court of the Gentiles. This porch was about a 
thousand feet long. 

At the time of the Feast of the Dedication, it was 
winter, and Jesus was walking with his disciples in this 
porch. The Jews gathered around him and asked: 

"How long are you going to keep our minds in 
uncertainty? If you are really the Christ, the King of 
Israel foretold by the prophets of old, tell us plainly." 

"I have already told you," answered Jesus, "and 
you do not believe me. The works that I do in the name 
of my Father, they speak for me; but you do not listen 
because you do not belong to my flock. My sheep listen 
to my voice; I know them, and they follow me; and I 
give to them the life everlasting; and they shall not be 
lost, and no one will ever snatch them out of my hands. 
My Father who has given them to me is stronger than 
all; and no one can snatch anything out of my Father's 
hand." 

Then Jesus gave the parable or story of "The Good 
Shepherd." He said: 

"I tell you in truth, whoever does not go into the 
sheepfold through the door, but climbs up somewhere else, 
that man is a thief and a robber. But the man who goes 
296 



GTfje <§oob H>f)epf)erb 



through the door is a shepherd of the sheep. The watch- 
man opens the door for him; and the sheep listen to his 
voice. He calls his own sheep by their names, for he 
knows each one of them, and leads them out. When he 
has brought all his sheep outside, he walks in front of 
them; and his sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 
When a stranger speaks to them, they will not follow 
him, but will run away from him, for they do not know 
a stranger's voice." 

Jesus spoke to them this parable, but they did not 
understand its mean- 



ing. So he explained 
it to them. 

"In truth I tell 
you," he said, "I am 
the Door for the sheep. 
All who ever came 
before me and not in 
my name, were thieves 
and robbers, but the 
sheep would not listen 
to them. I am the 




Eastern sheepfold 



Door, whoever enters by me will be safe ; and he shall 
go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only 
to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may 
have life and have it to the full. 

"I am not only the Door, but also the Good Shep- 
herd. The Good Shepherd lays down his own life for his 
sheep. The hired man, who is not a shepherd and does 
not own the sheep, when he sees a wolf coming, runs away 
and leaves the sheep. Then the wolf tears them and 
scatters the flock. The hired man does this, just because 
he is only a hired man, and does not care about the 
sheep. 

"I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep, and 

297 



GTfje (goob ^fjcpfjerb 



my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me, and 

I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. 
"I have other sheep, too, which do not belong to this 

fold; these also I must lead, and they will listen to my 

voice; and so it 
will be one flock 
and one Shepherd. 
"On this ac- 
count my Father 
loves me because 
I lay down my 
life, to take it up 
again. No one 
took it from me, 
but I lay it down 
of myself. I 
have power to lay 
it down, and I 
have power to 
take it up again. 
This is the com- 
mand which my 
Father has given 
me. I and my 
Father are one." 
Suddenly, as 
he spoke these 
words, the Jews 
began again to 

pick up stones to throw at him. Jesus said to them: 
"I have done many good works of God. For which 

of these works would you now stone me?" 

The Jews answered, "It is not for any good work 

that we would si one you, but for those dreadful words, 

words that would make you, a mere man, to be God!" 

298 




The Good Shepherd 



®fje <Soob H>f)epf)erb 



Jesus answered, "Is it not written in your law, 'I 
said, you are gods'? If the law calls those 'gods' to whom 
God spoke his word — and God's book must speak the 
truth — then why is it such a terrible thing for one whom 
God has set apart and sent into the world as his messenger, 
to say of himself 'I am God's Son'? If I am not doing 
the work of my Father, do not believe me; but if I am 
doing it, even though you will not believe me, believe 
what my work shows. Then you will learn and under- 
stand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." 

Once again they tried to seize him, but he escaped 
from their hands and went away from Jerusalem. 




Jerusalem from the north 



299 



Centring (But tije ^ebentp 

CHAPTER 58 

AFTER LEAVING Jerusalem, at the time of the 
Z-\ Feast of the Dedication, Jesus went across the 

Jordan, and followed the river upward to the place 
twelve or thirteen miles below the Sea of Galilee; the 
place where he had been baptized by John, and where 
soon after his baptism he found his earliest followers. 
This place was called by two names, "Bethabara," 
which means, "the town of the ford," that is where one 
could wade across the river; and "Bethany beyond 
Jordan," to keep it distinct from the other Bethany near 
Jerusalem, where Martha and Alary lived. 

The twelve disciples were with Jesus at Bethabara, 
and some who came with him from Jerusalem and Judea. 
Also when the news went abroad in Galilee that Jesus 
was at this place, many more hastened to meet him; so 
that soon a large number of his followers gathered around 
him. Jesus was now near the border of the land on the 
east of the Jordan, known as Perea. This word means 
"beyond," and the land was so named because it was 
"beyond the Jordan" from Judea. 

Jesus had never visited this land, although he had 
preached in every other part of the country; in Judea 
on the south; in Galilee on the north; in Decapolis on 
the northeast; and even in Samaria, where the people 
were not Jews but Samaritans. He made up his mind 
now to go through Perea preaching, as he had preached 
in all the other parts of the land. But in Perea, his 
time must be short, because now only three months 
remained before the Feast of the Passover, and at that 
300 



g>enbmg ©ut tfje g>etoentp 



time he must be in Jerusalem. In order to make the 
people of Perea ready for his coming, and to bring together 
as many as possible to hear him, he chose the places in 
that land to be visited. Then he called seventy men from 
among his followers, and sent them by two and two to these 
cities and the villages around them, to preach to the people 
and tell them that Jesus was soon to come among them. 

To these seventy preachers, Jesus gave the same com- 
mands that he had given to the Twelve some months be- 
fore, when he sent them out to preach in Galilee. He said: 

"Do not take with you a purse of money, or a bag 
for food, or an extra pair of sandals. Do not stop to 
give greetings to any who meet you on the road. Wher- 
ever you go into a house, first say, 'May peace be to this 
house !' Then if one is there who is in the spirit of peace, 
your peace will rest upon him; otherwise it will come back 
to you. Stay at that same house while you are in that 
city, and eat and drink whatever they offer you, for 
the workman has a right to his wages. Do not move 
around from one house to another. Whatever town you 
visit, if the people give you welcome, eat what is given you; 
cure those that are sick ; and be sure to say to the people 
everywhere, 'The kingdom of God is coming very soon.' 

"But whatever town you visit, if the people will not 
receive you nor listen to your message, go out into the 
streets of that place and cry aloud, 'The very dust of your 
city that clings to our feet we wipe off as a sign against 
you; but be sure of this, that the kingdom of God is 
coming to you soon.' I tell you that in God's day when 
he will judge men, the punishment of Sodom will be 
easier to bear than the punishment of that town!" 

The seventy men went out from Bethabara, going 
in pairs, two men together, making thirty-five pairs. 
They visited all the cities and villages in the country of 
Perea to which Jesus had sent them, the places which he 

301 



Centring 0nt tfjc i£>euentp 



was expecting to visit later; gave to the people the 
message of Jesus, that the kingdom of God was soon to 
appear, and thus aroused the people everywhere to an 
interest in the coming of Jesus. Their errand was 
finished in a few weeks, for thirty-five pairs of men could 
soon visit many places; and when they came again to 
Bethabara, they found Jesus still there. 

They told Jesus what places they had visited and 

how they had wrought many cures in his name and 

through the power which he had 

given them. With great joy 

they said to Jesus: 

"Master, even the evil 
spirits obey us when we use your 
name!" 

And Jesus answered them, 
"Yes, I have seen Satan, the 
chief of the evil spirits, fall from 
a scorpion heaven like a flash of lightning 

from the sky. Remember, I have given you the power to 
tread on serpents and scorpions, and to trample under 
your feet all the power of the enemy; nothing shall 
in any way do you any harm. Only, do not rejoice 
merely because the evil spirits submit to you; but rejoice 
more because your names are written in heaven as the 
children of God." 

While Jesus was at Bethabara, many people came to 
see him and to hear his words. As this was one of the places 
where John the Baptist had preached three years before, 
they compared Jesus with John, and many of them said: 
"John the Baptist never gave any wonderful works as 
signs that God had sent him; but he spoke about this man; 
and all that he ever said of this man was the truth." 

And while Jesus was at Bethabara many people 
believed in him and became his followers. 




3U?arusi Calleb <^ut of ^\i ®omb 

CHAPTER 59 

WHILE JESUS was still at Bethabara, and expect- 
ing soon to begin his journey through Perea, 
news came to him which led him for a time to 
change his plans. 

At Bethany, near Jerusalem, as you remember, 
were living his dear friends, Martha and Mary and 
Lazarus. The two sisters sent to Jesus at Bethabara 
the word: 

"Lord, your friend Lazarus is very ill." 

They did not ask Jesus to come and cure Lazarus, 
but they hoped that he might come, although it would 
call for a journey sixty miles from Bethabara to Bethany. 
But Jesus did not at once go to the sick man. He said: 

"This sickness is not to end in his death; the end 
of it will be to give glory to God and to the Son of 
God." 

Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus. Yet, 
when he heard that Lazarus was very ill, he stayed two 
days longer at Bethabara. Then, after that, he said to 
his disciples, "Let us go again to Judea." 

At this the disciples were greatly surprised. They 
said to him, "Why, Master, only a little while ago the 
men of Judea were trying to stone you. Is it safe for 
you to go there again?" 

"Are there not twelve hours in the day?" answered 
Jesus. "If a man walks about through the day, he 
does not stumble, because he can have the light of the 
sun; but if he walks at night, he does stumble, because 
he has no light." 

303 




With a loud voice, Jesus called: "Lazarus! Come out!" And out from th< 
tomb came the man who had been dead. 



304 



£a?arusi Calleb &ut of Site ®omb 

Then he added, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen 
asleep; I am going to wake him." 

"If he has fallen asleep, Master," said the disciples, 
"he will get well." 

They thought that Jesus was speaking of taking rest 
in sleep, which would show that a fever was passing 
away; but Jesus meant that Lazarus was in the sleep 
of death. Then he told them in plain words : 

"Lazarus is dead; and on your account I am glad 




Bethany, where Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived 



that I was not there ; for now you will learn to believe in 
me more fully. Come, now, let us go to him." 

At this, Thomas, one of his twelve disciples, who 
was also called " Didymus," a word meaning "The Twin," 
said to his fellow disciples: 

" Let us go too; and if he dies, we will die with him." 
So from Bethabara they went again to Bethany, two 
miles from Jerusalem; a journey of about sixty miles. 
When Jesus came to Bethany, he found that Lazarus 
had been already four days in the tomb. In the house 
with Martha and Mary were a number of their 
friends who had come to show their sympathy with 
20 305 



Ha^aru* Caileb <©ut of ?|is ^omfc 

the sisters by weeping with them over their brother's 
death. 

Someone went into the room and told Martha that 
Jesus was coming, and was near the village. She rose 
up quietly and hastened to meet Jesus, while Mary sat 
still in the room. When Martha saw Jesus, she said to 
him mournfully: 

"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not 
have died. And even now, I know that whatever you 
ask of God, he will give it to you." 

"Your brother shall rise to life again," said Jesus. 

"I know that he will rise again," said Martha, 
"when all the dead shall be raised up, at the last day." 

"I, myself," said Jesus, "am the one who raises the 
dead to life. He who believes in me shall live again, even 
if he dies ; and he who lives believing in me shall never 
die. Do you believe that?" 

"Yes, Lord," she said, "I do believe that you are 
the Christ, the Son of God, who was promised to come 
into the world." 

After saying this, Martha went again to the house, 
leaving Jesus still outside the village. She whispered 
to her sister Mar} 7 : 

"The Master is here, and he has asked for you." 

On hearing this, Mary rose in haste and went to the 
place where Jesus was. The friends who were with her, 
seeing her go out of the house, thought that she was going 
to the tomb, to weep there, and they followed her, to 
weep with her. It was the custom in that land, and still 
is the custom, for those who had lost a friend, to meet 
at his grave, day after day, and there to mourn for him. 

But Mary did not go to her brother's tomb. She 
went to Jesus, who was still at the place where Martha 
had met him; and threw herself at his feet, saying, as 
her sister had said before: 
306 



Ha?aru£ Calieb ©ut of J^ts ®omb 

"0 Master! if only you had been here ; my brother 
would not have died!" 

When Jesus saw her wailing, and saw the friends with 
her wailing, he too was troubled and greatly distressed. 

"Where have you laid him," he asked. 

"Come and see, Master," they answered. 

Jesus now began to weep, in feeling for the two 
sisters. 

"How he must have loved him!" said the Jews to 
each other. But some of them said : 

"Could not this man, who gave sight to a blind 
man, have kept this man from dying?" 

Again groaning, but quietly, Jesus came to the 
tomb. Like many of the graves in that land, it was a 
cave in the rocky hillside, and a large stone covered its 
mouth. 

"Move away the stone," commanded Jesus. 

"Master," said Martha, "remember that he has 
been dead four days, and by this time there may be a 
strong smell from the body." 

"Did I not tell you," said Jesus, "that if you will 
only believe in me you will see the glory of God?" 

They moved the stone away from the door of the 
cave, and Jesus, lifting his eyes upward, said: 

"Father, I thank thee for listening to my prayer. 
I knew that thou always hearest me; but I spoke on 
account of those around me, that they might believe 
that thou hast sent me." 

Then with a loud voice, Jesus called: 

"Lazarus! Come out!" 

Out from the tomb came the man who had been 
dead. He could scarcely walk, for his hands and feet 
were wrapped with bandages; his face, too, had been 
covered with a cloth tied over it. 

"Set him free," said Jesus, "and let him go!" 

307 



la^aruS Calleb ©ut of ?fe\& Comb 

They took away the cloth from his face, and 
unwrapped the bandages from his bod}'; and Lazarus 
stood up living and well, in the presence of all the people! 
How happy were Martha and Alary, as they placed their 
arms mound him, and felt his flesh, warm with the life- 
blood once more flowing through his veins! 

As the Jews who had come to visit Martha and Mary 
saw this wonderful work, calling back to life a man who 
had been in his tomb four days, many of them believed 
in Jesus. These told the story to others, and the number 
of believers grew larger and larger. 

Some of those who had seen or had heard of the 
raising of Lazarus to life went to Jerusalem and told the 
Pharisees, the enemies of Jesus, what had taken place. 
These men told the chief priests, and the priests and 
Pharisees called together the high council to talk 
of these things and to decide what should be done 
with Jesus. 

This high council was a board or company of leading 
men, which, next to the Roman governor, ruled over the 
Jews. It was made up of seventy-two men, some of them 
priests and some of them scribes or teachers of the law. 
They met in a room set apart for their use in the Temple ; 
and they formed the highest court in the land to deal 
with an}- who were accused of having broken the laws. 

When this council came together and heard of what 
Jesus had done and of the people who, in greater number 
than ever, were beginning to believe in Jesus, they said 
to each other, "What shall we do, now that this Jesus 
has done another work, more wonderful even than any 
of his works in the past? If we leave him alone, all the 
people will believe in him, and will seek to make him 
their King. Then the Romans will come, and will 
destroy our Temple, and will no longer let us live as a 
nation." 
308 



Ha^arus; Calleb 0ut of ?|te ®omlj 

But one of these men in the council was the high 
priest, whose name was Caiaphas. He said to them: 

"You are entirely mistaken. You do not under- 
stand that whether Jesus is or is not a prophet coming 
from God, it is better that one man should die, instead 
of having all the people destroyed. Let us all agree that 
Jesus shall be killed, and that the people of Israel shall 
be saved from death." 

These words of Caiaphas the high priest meant more 
than he knew when he spoke them. He was himself, 
being the high priest, speaking a prophecy, that Jesus 
was to die for the people; for that was what Jesus was 
soon to do. He was to die for the sins of the people; not 
only for the Jewish people but for all the people of the 
world. By his death, Jesus was to bring together into 
one body all the children of God scattered throughout 
all the lands. 

At that meeting of the council, the rulers decided 
that Jesus must be killed. Not all of them agreed in 
this, for Nicodemus, who long before had come at night 
to talk with Jesus, and a rich member of the council, 
named Joseph — of whom we shall hear later — and a few 
others, were friendly to Jesus. But his enemies were so 
many and so fierce that these few friends of Jesus did not 
venture to speak for him. So the vote was taken that 
Jesus was to be put to death. 

Jesus, knowing all things, knew their plans; and 
he knew that when the time came he should die. But 
that time had not yet come, for he had promised to 
preach his gospel in Perea, across the Jordan. He went, 
therefore, to a town on the edge of the wilderness, called 
Ephraim, and there for a few weeks he stayed with his 
disciples. 

The great Feast of the Passover was drawing near, 
and many people were coming up to Jerusalem to prepare 

309 



la^arusi Caiicb ®ut of J|t$ &omb 

themselves for the Feast. They were looking out for 
Jesus, and said to each other as they walked in the courts 
of the Temple: 

"What do you think? Do you think that Jesus will 
come to the Feast " 

The chief priests and the leading Pharisees had 
given orders that if any one found out where Jesus was, 
they were to be told, so that they might send men to 
arrest him. 




The Via Dolorosa, or Sorrowful Way, over 

which, it is said, Christ walked 

carrying his cross 



310 



Jesus ^reacting in $erea 

CHAPTER 60 

JESUS DID not stay long in the village of Ephraim. 
He went down the mountains to the river Jordan, 
crossed it, and began preaching in the land of Perea, 
going to the places where his seventy messengers had 
given the news of his coming. 

Everywhere the people thronged in great crowds 
to see him and to hear him. The rich and the poor met 
in the crowd, the rulers and the common people, the 
Pharisees who were his enemies, and the publicans or 
tax-collectors who had been leading lives full of sin. 
There was a great desire among the people to listen to the 
Teacher and Prophet from Galilee, of whom they had 
heard so much, and whom they had not seen before. 
Many went to see him because they believed that he 
was the long-looked-for Christ, who was at last on his 
way to Jerusalem to sit on his throne and rule all the 
lands. So great were the crowds to see and hear Jesus 
that it is said that the thousands trod on each other 
around him. 

While he was speaking in one place to a great multi- 
tude of people, a voice was heard from the throng. 

"Teacher," cried out a man, "tell my brother to 
divide with me the property which belongs to our family." 

This man supposed that Jesus, being the King of 
Israel, would rule in all matters of difference between the 
people. But Jesus answered him: 

"Man, who made me a judge or a settler of disputes 
over your affairs?" 

Then he added, "Take care to avoid the love of 

311 



STcs'us" $reacfjing; in $erea 



money; for no matter how rich one maybe, his true life 
does not depend on what he owns." 

And he gave to them the parable or story of "The 
Poor Rich Man." He said: 

"There was once a rich man whose farm gave him 
very large crops. He began to ask himself, 'What am I 




Home of a rich man in Palestine 

to do? I have no room to store the grain and fruits 
that have grown on my land. This is what I will do. 
I will pull down my old barns and build larger ones in 
place of them. There I shall store all the fruits from 
my orchards and the grain from my fields. And then 
I will Bay bo myself, "Now you have plenty of good 
things stored up to last for many years; take your ease, 
c:ii , drink and have a good time." ' But God said to him 
'Fool! this very night your life is taken away; and who 
312 



3fe£u* $reacfnng tn $erea 



will have all that you have stored up?' So is it with 
everyone who lays up money for himself, instead of gain- 
ing the riches of God." 

And Jesus said again to his disciples some of the 
things that he had already taught them in his great 
"Sermon on the Mount"; for he often repeated the 
same teachings, over and over, until the disciples knew 
them by heart, so that after he should be taken from 




' Look at the lilies, and see how they grow " 



them, they in turn could tell them to others. At this 
time he said: 

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your 
life here on the earth, what you can get to eat, nor what 
you can get to wear. Life is something more than food 
and the body is more than its clothes. Look at the 
crows flying through the air! They neither sow nor 
reap; fchey have no storehouse nor barns; and yet God 
gives them food. How much more are you worth to 

313 



Jesus ^reacting in $erea 



God than arc the birds? And however anxious you may 
be, can you add one minute to your life? And if you 
cannot do even this, why be anxious about other 
matters? 

"Look at the lilies, and see how they grow. They 
neither spin nor weave; and yet, I tell you, even King 
Solomon in all his splendor was not dressed like one of 
these. Now, if God so beautifully clothes the grass in 
the field, which blooms today, and tomorrow will be 
thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, 
men, who trust God so little? 

"So do not worry about food and drink and clothes; 
these are the things for which the nations of the world 
who know not God are seeking after, and you should not 
wish to be like them. Besides, your Father in heaven 
knows that you have need of these common things. 
Only seek the kingdom of God, and your heavenly Father 
will see to it that you have these things. Do not be 
afraid, my little flock, for your Father has been pleased 
to give you a place in his kingdom." 

At this time some people brought to Jesus the news 
that Pilate, the Roman governor, had killed in the 
Temple some men from Galilee, while they were wor- 
shipping at the altar, so that their blood was poured out 
with the blood of their offerings. This act of the gover- 
nor had terribly shocked the people. 

"Do you suppose," said Jesus, "that because those 
Galileans suffered these things, that they were worse 
sinners than the rest of those living in Galilee? I tell 
you, no; unless you turn from your sins and seek God, 
you will all perish as they did. 

"Then, too, think of those eighteen men in Siloam, 
just outside of Jerusalem; those men on whom the tow r er 
fell and killed them all; do you suppose that they had 
been worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem? 
314 



Je£u£ $read(nng in $erea 



No, I tell you; unless you turn to God, you will all perish 
as they did." 

Then Jesus gave to the people the parable of "The 
Fruitless Fig Tree." He said: 

"A man who had a fig tree growing in his garden 
came at the time when figs were ripe, looking for fruit, 
but found on it not a single fig. So he said to the 
gardener, 'Here I have come for three years looking for 
fruit on this tree, without finding any. Cut it down! 
Why should it take up room and rob the soil? ' But the 
gardener answered him, '0 please, sir, leave it one year 
more. I will dig around it and enrich the soil; then it 
may bear fruit next year. If it does not, then let it be 
cut down.' " 




Beneath an olive tree is a delightful place to rest, for all about 
it usually grow flowers of many kinds 



315 




316 



3n tfje Cfjurcf) anb at tfje Jf east 

CHAPTER 61 

WHILE JESUS was in Perea, on the Sabbath days 
he went into the churches and spoke there; 
and in every place the church was crowded with 
those who were eager to hear him. On one Sabbath day 
he saw in the church a woman who for eighteen years 
had been bent double and could not possibly stand up 
straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her to him. 

"Woman," he said, "you are set free from your 
weakness." 

He placed his hands upon her, and instantly power 
came to her. She stood up erect, and with a loud voice 
praised God for her cure. But the president of the 
board in the church was greatly displeased that Jesus 
had done this on the Sabbath. He said to the people: 

"There are six days in the week for work; come on 
one of these to be cured, and not on the holy Sabbath." 

"0 you false-hearted men, making a pretense of 
serving God!" said the Lord Jesus. "Does not each one 
of you on the Sabbath day unloose his ox or his ass from 
its manger, and lead it out to drink? And this woman, 
a daughter of Abraham our father, whom the evil one 
has held bound for all these eighteen years, should she 
not be set free on the Sabbath?" 

As he said this all those who were opposed to him 
felt ashamed of themselves; while the people rejoiced 
to see all his wonderful doings. As Jesus went through 
the l owns and villages, all the time on his way toward 
Jerusalem, he repeated many of the parables and teach- 
ings that he had given in other parts of the land, such as 

317 



3n tt»e Cfjurcf) anb at tfje Jfeasit 

"The Narrow Door/' "The Mustard Seed/' "The 
Yeast in the Dough," and others. 

The land of Perea, where he was now teaching, 
belonged to the Kingdom of Herod. Some Pharisees, 
who were enemies of Jesus, came to him and said: 

"You had better get away from this land, for King 
Herod means to kill you." 

This they said, not to save the life of Jesus, but to 
make him leave their land. But Jesus answered them: 

"You may go and tell that fox that I am casting out 
the evil spirits and curing diseases today and tomorrow, 
and on the third day I shall finish my work. But I 
must go on my way today, tomorrow and the day after 
tomorrow, for it would never do for a prophet to meet 
his end except in Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! 
killing the prophets and stoning those whom God has 
sent to you! How often would I have gathered your 
children around me, as a fowl gathers her brood under 
her wings! But you would not come! Truly, your 
house is left to you to be destroyed. Never, I tell you, 
shall you see me again until the day comes when you will 
say, ' Blessed be He who comes in the name of the 
Lord.' " 

In one place he was invited by one of the rulers who 
was a Pharisee to come to his house for dinner. There 
were at the table other Pharisees and people not friendly 
to Jesus, and they watched him closely. He saw in the 
room a man who was swollen with the dropsy; and 
Jesus asked the teachers of the law and the Pharisees: 

"Is it according to the law to cure a sick man on 
the Sabbath, or is it not?" 

They said nothing. Then Jesus laid his hands on 
the man and cured him, and sent him away. Afterward 
he said: 

"Is there any one of you who, finding on the Sab- 
318 



3n tije Cfjtirdj anb at tfje jfea^t 

bath day that his ass or his ox has fallen into a pit, will 
not at once pull him out without waiting for a working 
day?" 

They could not answer him this question. He 
noticed that those who had been invited to the dinner 
picked out for themselves the best places, near the. head 
of the table; and he gave them this advice. 

"When you are invited to a marriage feast, do not 
take one of the best places. It may be that some person 
of higher rank than you has been invited; and then the 
one who gives the feast comes to you and says, 'Here, 
make room for this man!' Then you must get up 
ashamed and take a place down at the foot of the table. 
No, when you come to the feast, go to the lowest place, 
then when the giver of the feast sees you, he will say, 
'My friend, come up higher,' and you will be honored 
in the presence of all your fellow-guests. For every one 
who lifts up himself shall be humbled; and the one who 
humbles himself shall be lifted up." 

Jesus said also to the ruler who had invited him, 
"When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your 
friends, or your brothers, or those who are your relatives, 
or your rich neighbors, for they may invite you in turn, 
and thus you will be repaid. No, when you give a 
dinner, invite the poor, the cripples, those who have lost 
an arm, and the blind. Then God will give you his 
blessing; for these people cannot repay you; and you 
will receive your reward when God raises up the good 
from their graves to everlasting life." 

One of those at the table heard these words of 
Jesus; and he spoke out, "Happy will he be who shall 
sit down at that feast in the kingdom of God!" 

Jesus answered him by giving the parable of "The 
Supper and the Excuses." He said: 

"There was once a man who was giving a great 

319 



3n tfte Cfjurcf) anb at tfje jFeast 



supper, to which he had invited many of his friends. 
At the hour for the supper, he sent out his servant to 
say to the guests who had been invited, 'Come at once, 
for everything is now ready!' But all of them with one 
mind began to decline his invitation. The first man 
said to the servant : 

"'I have bought some land, and I must go and 
look at it. Please to excuse me.' 

"The second said, 'I have bought five pair of oxen, 
and I am going to give them a trial. Please to have me 
excused.' 

"Another said, 'I cannot come, because I have just 
married a wife.' 

"The servant went home and told his master all 
these answers. Then the master of the house was very 
angry. He said to his servant: 

" 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the 
town, and bring in here the poor, the cripples, the blind 
and the lame.' 

"Soon the servant came back, saying, 'Your orders 
have been carried out, sir; but there is still room for 
more.' 

" 'Go out into the country,' said the master of the 
house, 'to the roads and the hedges, and make the people 
come in, to fill up my house; for I tell you that not one 
of those that were invited shall taste of my supper.' ' 



320 



0n Counting tfje Cost 

CHAPTER 62 

AT THIS TIME while Jesus was in Perea, preaching 
in the towns, greater crowds than ever before were 
following him, claiming to believe in him as the 
son of David and the King of Israel. Most of these 
people saw that he was going toward Jerusalem, and the 
report went abroad among them that when he reached 
that city he would take the throne that had been King 
David's; and not only would be king of that land but 
lead the Jewish people to conquer all the lands. Very 
many of the crowd following Jesus had no thought of 
what it meant to be his disciples. They were expecting 
great things — riches and honor and power — but knew 
nothing of the sufferings that Jesus must endure and that 
his followers must face in the days soon to come. 

Jesus was not willing to have such careless and 
thoughtless followers as these. He spoke to them words 
that seemed harsh and forbidding, but were meant to 
make them think of what they must meet if they would 
be among those who believed in him. Turning to the 
multitudes that were flocking around him, he called 
out to them: 

"If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his 
father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers 
and sisters, yes, and his own life besides, he cannot be 
a disciple of mine. Whoever does not carry his own 
cross and walk in my steps cannot be a disciple of mine!" 

Jesus did not mean quite all these words he seemed 

to speak. He did not wish sons and daughters really to 

hate their fathers and mothers, nor parents to hate their 

21 321 



0n Counting tfje Cost 



o\mi children; but he did mean that no one should say, 
■My father and mother do not consent to my following 
Jesus, and therefore I cannot be his disciple.' Xor did 




ABOUND 

JERUSALEM 



he wish that parents should say, ' I have children to care 
for, and I must not believe in Jesus, and become his 
disciple.' He wished those who were following him wit h- 
out thought, to ask themselves whether they were willing 
322 



0n Counting tfje Cost 



to lose all for Christ's sake, and to serve him, no matter 
who were opposed to him or what they might suffer in 
his service. 

"Who of you/' said Jesus, "when he wants to build 
a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, and 
see whether he has enough money to finish it? If he 
can only lay the foundation, and then must leave the 
work unfinished, everybody who sees the half -completed 
wall will laugh at him and say, 'This fellow began to 
build, but he could not finish!' 

"Or what king sets out to go to war with another 
king, and does not first sit down to consider whether 
with ten thousand soldiers he can fight the king who 
comes against him with twenty thousand? If he does 
not dare to meet his enemy, then while his army is still 
a great way off, he sends an officer to ask for terms of 
peace. So will it be with every one of you who will not 
give up all that he has; he cannot be a disciple of mine." 

What Jesus meant was this, "Think whether you 
will hold out to the end, if you would be among my 
followers. And think, too, whether you will dare to 
meet the hate and opposition that you must overcome 
in becoming my disciples." He went on with such words 
as these: 

"Every true disciple of mine is like salt; and salt is 
good as long as it has its own salty taste. But if it 
loses its saltiness and becomes tasteless, is there any way 
to make it good salt again? It is of no use either for the 
land, nor even for the manure heap, but people throw 
it away as useless. So will it be with everyone who loses 
the salt of my life in himself. Now, do not let these 
words of mine go into one ear and out from the other. 
Listen, and think of what I have said!" 



323 



Peeking ttje Lost 



T 



CHAPTER 63 

HE PHARISEES were very careful to keep all the 
rules of the Jewish law. and were supposed to 
be very religious, because they prayed often 

in public places 
and went regu- 
larly to church. 
But Jesus saw 
that their religion 
was only pretend- 
ed and not real, 
and would have 
nothing to do 
withthem,except 
rebuke them for 
their sins. The 
scribes, who were 
the teachers of 
the law in the 
churches, expect- 
ed Jesus to give 
them special hon- 
or. But both 
Pharisees and 
scribes were verj r 
angry when they 
found that Jesus 
paid them no at- 
tention, and was 
friendly with the 




" But one was out on the hills away . . 
Away on the mountains wild and bare' 



324 



Peeking tfte Host 



tax-collectors whom all the Jews despised and hated. 
Jesus even allowed some to come near him who were 
outcasts, people who did not go to church and did not try 
to keep the rules of the Jews. 

The Pharisees and the scribes said in great scorn of 
Jesus, 1 ' This man 
welcomes sinners, 
and even sits 
down at the table 
to eat with 
them!" 

Jesus heard 
of their words, 
and answered 
them in the para- 
ble of "The Lost 
Sheep." He said: 

"H one of 
you has a hun- 
dred sheep, and 
loses one of them, 
does he not leave 
the ninety and 
nine sheep in the 
sheepfold out in 
the fields, and go 
after the lost one 
until he finds it. 
When h e has 
found it, he puts 
it onhis shoulders Searching for the lost si,ver -* iece 

with great joy and carries it home. And when he comes 
to his house, he calls together his neighbors and his 
friends, saying to them, 'Come and be glad with me; for 
I have found my sheep which was lost.' 

325 




Peeking tfte Host 



'" So I tell you, there is more joy in heaven over one 
outcast sinner who turns away from his sin to God, than 
over ninety-nine religious men who are good already and 
do not need to turn from sin." 

A lady has written this parable in verses that have 
been set to music and sung many times. These are 
her verses: 

The Ninety and Xixe 

There were ninety and nine that safely lay 

In the shelter of the fold, 
But one was out on the hills away, 

Far off from the gates of gold — 
Away on the mountains wild and bare, 
Away from the tender Shepherd's care. 

''Lord, thou hast here thy ninety and nine; 

Are they not enough for thee?" 
But the Shepherd made answer, " 'Tis of mine 

Has wandered away from me; 
And although the road be rough and steep 
I go to the desert to find my sheep." 

But none of the ransomed ever knew 

How deep were the waters crossed; 
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through 

Ere he found his sheep that was lost. 
Out in the desert he heard its cry, 
Sick and helpless, and ready to die. 

"Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way 

That mark out the mountain's track?" 
"They Ave re shed for one who had gone astray 

Ere the Shepherd could bring him back." 
"Lord, whence are thy hands so rent and torn?" 
"They are pierced tonight by many a thorn." 

But all through the mountains, thunder-riven, 

And up from the rocky steep, 
There arose a cry to the gate of heaven: 

"Rejoice! I have found my sheep!" 
And the angels echoed around the throne, 
" Rejoice! for the Lord brings back his own!" 

Mrs. Elizabeth C. Clephane. 
326 



Peeking tfje Hogt 



Jesus also gave to the people another parable, 
"The Lost Silver-piece." He said: 

"Or, if there is a woman who has ten silver coins, 
and loses one of them, what will she do? She will light 
her lamp, and sweep her house, and search carefully for 
her money, until she finds it. And when she finds it, 
she goes out and calls together her women-friends and 
neighbors, and says, 'Come and rejoice with me, for I 
have found the silver-piece whieh I had lost.' 

"Even so, I tell you there is rejoicing among the 
angels of God over one sinner that turns to God." 

It might be asked : — Avhy did the woman need to 
light a lamp when searching for her lost coin? In that 
land, the houses of the plain people have either no 
windows, or one window for the whole house, which is 
merely a hole in the wall. The rooms are dark, even at 
mid-day, and to look on the floor thoroughly, and espe- 
cially in the corners, a lamp must be lighted and carried 
close to the floor. 





Silver Denarius of Tiberius. (Penny, 
Matt. 18: 28, etc., 16 cents.) 



327 



Gflfje parable of tfje Host ^>on Jfounb 

CHAPTER 64 

YOU REMEMBER that the enemies of Jesus, the 
Pharisees and scribes, said of him, "He gives wel- 
come to bad men, and eats at the table with them!" 
Jesus in answer gave a parable or story to show how God 
welcomes a sinner who turns from his sin and seeks his 
heavenly Father. This is one of the most beautiful 
among all the parables of Jesus. It is called "The 
Prodigal Son." The word "prodigal" means one who 
spends his money, throwing it away in a careless man- 
ner; and this story is of a young man who spent all the 
money that his father gave him. Here is the parable: 

"There was once a man," said Jesus, "who had 
two sons. The older son stayed at home and helped his 
father in the care of his farm, but the younger son was 
restless and wanted to go away. The young man said 
to his father: 

" 'Father, give me now the share of what you own 
which will come to me after you die.' 

"So the father divided all that he had, his land, his 
vineyards, his olive orchards, his fig trees, his houses, 
his flocks of sheep and goats, and his money, into three 
equal parts. Two of these parts he kept for the older 
son; and the third part he gave to the younger son; 
for in that land it was the rule for the older son, as the 
head of the family, to receive twice as much as a younger 
son. 

"After a few days, the young man sold out his share 
of the property for ready money, and then went away to 
a land far off, where he could live as he pleased. There 
328 



Cfte parable of tfje ILosit g>on Jfotinb 

he began to lead a foolish and mid life, feasting and 
drinking wine with worthless men and women. It did 
not take him many months to spend all his money and 
to be in great want. None of these people who had 
helped him in his pleasures were now ready to help him 
in his need. And what added to his trouble was that 
just then food became very scarce in that country and 
there was not bread enough for all the people. 




"There in the open field among the grunting hogs sat this young man 



"This young man was in want of everything. His 
clothes became rags, his shoes were worn out, and what 
was worse, he could get nothing to eat and was starving 
for the want of food. Never before had he done any 
work, but now, driven by hunger he went everywhere 
looking for something to do which would give him a 
mouthful of bread. At last he found a man who was 
willing to hire him. This man sent him out into his 
field to take care of his pigs and feed them. This was 
a work felt to be disgraceful, for no Jew wou d eat pig's 

329 



Cfje parable of tfje lost £>on jfotmb 



meat or in any way touch the vile animals. But even 
this work the poor young man was compelled to do, 
rather than starve to death. In the field he was so 

hungry that he 
was ready to 
snatch up some 
of the bean-pods 
on which the pigs 
were feeding; and 
no one in that 
country cared for 
him or would 
even give h i m 
something to eat. 
"So there in 
the open field 
among the grunt- 
ing hogs sat this 
young man, rag- 
ged, famished 
and almost ready 
to die. Suddenly 




The father fell on his son's neck 

the thought came to him of his father's house, where 
once he had enjoyed plenty and lived at ease, waited 
upon by servants. He now saw how foolish, how 
ungrateful to a kind father, and how wicked he bad 
330 



tEfje parable of tfje £o£t g>on jfounb 

been. It seemed to him as if he had been living in a 
dream, had now for the first time awaked and had come 
to his senses. He said to himself: 

" 'Why, even the hired men on my fathei's farm 
have more food than they can eat ; and here I am almost 
dead with hunger! I will get up and will go to my 
father; and I will say to him, " Father, I have sinned 
against God in heaven and against you. I don't deserve 
any more to be called your son; only make me one of 
your servants working for wages." ' 

"So the poor young man left the field and the pigs, 
and went back to his father's house. There in the door 
sat his father waiting and watching for his wandering- 
son. While the son was still a long distance away, the 
father saw him and knew him, barefoot and ragged as 
he was. He felt pity for his son, whose looks showed 
his utter misery, and ran to him, fell upon his neck, 
placed his arms around him and kissed him. 

" 'Father,' said the young man, 'I have sinned 
against God in heaven and against you. I don't deserve 
any more to be called your son — ' But the father did not 
wait to hear him any further. He called out to the 
servants : 

" 'Be quick, bring some new clothes, the very best 
in the house, and put them on him; bring a ring to place 
around his wrist and sandals for his feet; go pick out 
the fattest calf in the stall, and kill it for a feast! Let 
us all eat and have a happy time together. For this son 
of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was 
lost and is found!' 

"So they began to make merry. Now the older 
son was out in the field; and as he came near the house, 
he heard the sounds of music and dancing. Wondering 
what was the cause of such gladness, he called to him 
one of the servants and asked what all this meant. 

331 



Z\)t parable of tfje lost g>on Jfounb 

'Your brother has come home,' answered the 
servant, 'and your father has killed the fattest of the 
calves, and is having a feast, because he has h m back 
safe and sound." 

"This made the older son very angry. He would 
not go in to the supper, but stayed outside. His father 
came out and begged him to come in and give a welcome 
to his brother. 

"But he refused, saying, 'Think of all the years 
that I have been serving you! Never have I once dis- 
obeyed you; and yet }'ou have never given me even a 
little kid out of the flock of goats, for me to have a 
merrymaking with my friends. But as soon as this son 
of yours comes home, who has wasted your money with 
vile people, you kill the fatted calf and for him make 
a great feast.' 

" 'My son,' said the father, 'you and I are always 
together, and everything that I have is yours. We 
could not help being glad and rejoicing; for your brother 
here was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is 
found.' " 

You can see that in this elder brother of the stor} r 
was the spirit of the Pharisees and the scribes, who were 
displeased because Jesus was willing to welcome those 
who had been sinful, when they came to him, sorry for 
their sins. 



332 



®f)e parable of tije ©tstfjonest ^tetoarb 

CHAPTER 65 

AT THIS TIME Jesus gave to his disciples the par- 
able of "The Dishonest Steward." A steward is 
a man who takes care of any business or lands or 
houses belonging to another man who employs him. 
Jesus said: 

"There was a rich man who had a steward who took 
charge of all his business. Some one told the rich man 
that his steward was cheating him and making a wrong 
use of his money. So the master sent for the steward 
and said: 

" 'What is this that I hear about you? Hand in 
your accounts, for you shall not be my steward any longer.' 

"The steward was at first greatly troubled at this; 
and he did not know how he could live if his office as 
steward was taken away. 

" 'What shall I do/ he said to himself, 'now that my 
master is taking away from me my place as steward? 
I am not strong enough to dig in the ground as a farmer, 
and I am ashamed to beg in the streets. Oh, I know 
what I can do, so that when my office as steward is taken 
away the people will invite me to their homes to live 
with them.' 

"One by one the steward called to him the men that 
were owing his master. 

" 'How much do you owe my master?' he asked of 
the first. 

" 'A hundred barrels of oil,' answered the man. 

" 'Here, take your bill,' said the steward, 'and 
instead of a hundred barrels, make it fifty barrels.' ' 

333 



Cfje parable of tftc Btsfjonest £>tetoarb 



This, } t ou see, was making a present to the man of 
fifty barrels of oil; but not from the steward himself; 
instead, stealing it from his master, f o give to the man 
who owed him. 

"Then to the next man he said, And how much do 

you owe?' 

"A hundred 
bushels of wheat,' 
answered the 
man. 

"Here is 
your bill/ said 
the steward ; 
'make it eighty.' 
"And so he 
treated all those 
who were owing 
to his master, 
giving to each 
one a part of 
his debt; so that 
they would be 
friendly to him 
and give h i m 
help when he 
should need it. 

"When his 
master heard of 
all this, he 
praised the steward, not for doing rightly, but for looking 
ahead and taking care for the time to come." 

And Jesus said, "The people of this world often 
are wiser in looking ahead, and planning for the days to 
come, than are those who have the light of God. And 
I say to you : use the money of this wor d to make 
334 




The dishonest steward 



Cfje parable of tfje M&fyontxt g>tetoarb 

friends with it, not on earth, but in heaven; so that 
when you leave the earth, they may welcome you to 
homes in heaven that never pass away. He who is 
faithful with a small trust is also faithful with a large 
trust; and he who is not honest but tries to cheat in 
little things, will be dishonest and try to cheat in great 
things. So if you cannot be trusted with the money of 
this world, who will trust you with the riches of God? 
And if you are not faithful with what belongs to another, 
how can you expect to have anything forever as your 
own? 

u Xo servant can serve two masters at the same 
time; for either he will hate one master and love the 
other; or else he will stand by one master and despise 
the other. You cannot serve God and at the same time 
live for money." 

All these things were spoken in the hearing of the 
Pharisees, who were fond of money and grasping. They 
listened, with, contempt and scorn in their hearts. 

Jesus knew what was in their minds, and he said to 
these Pharisees: 

"You are the men who make people believe that 
you are good, but God sees and knows what is in your 
hearts. What is lofty in the sight of men is vile in the 
sight of Go.d." 



335 



& parable for tfte Hoberg of Jtlonep 

CHAPTER 66 

JESUS KNEW that the Pharisees, for all their church- 
going and their carefulness in keeping the rules of 
their law, were in their hearts lovers of money, and 
were living for the things of this world and not for God. 
He gave to them a parable about a rich man who sud- 
denly became poor, and a poor man who became rich. 
It is called "The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus." 

"There was a rich man," said Jesus, ''who dressed 
in purple robes, like a king, and lived in a splendid great 
house, with many servants to wait upon him, and feasted 
every day upon the finest food. Outside the door of 
the rich man's house was laid every morning a poor 
beggar named Lazarus, who was covered with sores and 
was glad to eat the crumbs and broken pieces from the 
rich man's table. The dogs of the street used to come 
and lick his sores. 

" After a time, the poor man died, and his soul was 
taken by the angels to be in heaven with Abraham, the 
father of God's people; because in all his poverty he 
had lived for God, trying always to do God's will. The 
rich man died, too, and was buried. But no angels 
came to carry him to the land where Abraham was 
living in happiness. His soul went to the place of woe 
and sorrow and suffering; not because he had been rich, 
but because in his riches he had never thought of God. 

"The rich man, being in torment, looked up, and 
far away saw Abraham, with Lazarus in his arms. 

" '0 Father Abraham,' he called out, 'take pit}' on 
me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in 
336 



a parable for tfje Sobers of iWonep 

water and cool my tongue, for I am burning in this 
flame!' 

" 'My son/ answered Abraham, ' remember that 
when you were alive on the earth you had all your 
enjoyment, while Lazarus in his life had poverty and 
pain. Now Lazarus has comfort for all his trouble and 
you are in misery. Besides all that, between us in 




Lazarus before the rich man's door 

heaven and you in the dwelling place of the wicked, 
there is a great valley, a gulf which no one can cross, 
either to go from us to you or to come from you to us.' 
" 'If that be so,' said the once-rich man, now so 
poor, 'and Lazarus cannot come to me, I beg of you, 
Father Abraham, to send Lazarus to my father's house; 
for I have five brothers; let him speak to them in time, 
so that they may not come to this place of terrible 
suffering.' 
22 337 



9 parable for tfje Hoberss of Jilonep 

" 'They have the writings of Moses and the words 
of all the prophets/ said Abraham; 'let them listen to 
these.' 

" 'But, Father Abraham/ he said, 'if some one from 
the dead should go to them, they would turn from 
sin to God.' 

" 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets/ 
said Abraham, 'they will not believe, even if some one 
should rise from the dead.' " 

As the twelve disciples of Jesus heard this parable, 
they said, "Lord, make our faith stronger!" 

"If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed," 
said Jesus, "you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be 
uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. 

"Which one of you, if he had a servant plowing in 
the field or tending sheep, when he comes in from the 
field will say to him, ' Come at once and take your place 
at the table for your supper'? No, he will say to his 
servant, 'Get my supper read}'; then make yourself 
ready to wait on me while I am eating and drinking; 
and after that you may have your supper.' 

" Does a master thank his servant for doing what he 
has been told? Well, it is the same with you; when 
you have done all that you have been told, say, 'We are 
only servants; we have done no more than we ought to 
have done.' " 



338 



®too parables Upon draper 

CHAPTER 67 

JESUS TOLD his disciples a parable to show that 
they should always keep on praying and never be 
discouraged. This parable is named "The Parable 
of the Unjust Judge." 

'"in a certain city," he said, "there was a judge 
who in his rule did not try to do right, but was often 
unjust and wicked; for he had no fear of God and no 
care for what men said about him. And in that city 
there was a widow who came many times to this judge, 
crying over and over again, 'Do for me what is right 
against the man who has done me wrong!' 

"For some time the judge paid no attention to her, 
for right and wrong were both the same to him. But 
after a while the judge said to himself: 

." 'Although I have no fear of God and no care for 
man, yet as this widow is so troublesome to me, and 
gives me no rest, I will do what she asks, for I am tired 
of her coming and of her calling out for her right 
every day.' 

"Listen," said the Lord Jesus, "to what this unjust 
judge says. And if a man who does not care for right 
or wrong will at last answer a prayer, how much more 
will your heavenly Father listen to his own children 
when they call upon him day and night, even though he 
seems to make them wait long for the answer to their 
prayers? I tell you that God will do right by them and 
answer their prayers, and that very soon! Yet when 
the Son of Man comes, will he find on earth those who 
are looking for him and who believe in him?" 

339 



Ctoo parables Upon draper 



Jesus also told a parable to some people who were 
sure of their own goodness and looked down upon others. 
This parable is that of "The Pharisee and the Tax- 
Gatherer. " 

"Two men," said Jesus, "went up to the Temple to 
pray. One of these men was a Pharisee; and the other 

was a tax-gatherer. 
The Pharisee 
stood up and 
began praying to 
himself, not to 
God, in words 
like these: 

"'0 God, I 
thank thee that I 
am not like other 
men — thieves, 
wrongdoers, and 
wicked— or even 
li k e this tax- 
gatherer. Twice 
in every week I 
eat no food, to 
show that I am 
worshipping God; 
I give to God's 

"Two men went up to the Temple to pray; one was hoilSC One-tenth of 
a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer" a ji fU fl + T o-pf ' 

" But the tax-gatherer stood far away, and would not 

raise his eyes toward heaven. He beat his breast, saying : 
" '0 God, have mercy on me and forgive my sins!' 
"I tell you," said Jesus, "this tax-gatherer went to 

his house with his sins forgiven, instead of the Pharisee. 

For everyone who uplifts himself will be brought low; 

and every one who humbles himself will be lifted up." 

340 




m>t Little Cfnlbren; anb tfje &icf) 
looting jfflan 

CHAPTER 68 

WHILE JESUS was still passing through the land 
of Perea, on his way to Jerusalem, at one place 
the fathers and mothers brought their babies to 
him, asking him to place his hands on their heads and 
speak upon them a blessing. When the disciples saw 
them doing this, they were not pleased. 

"Take these babies away!" they said. "The Lord 
is too busy with greater things to attend to them!" 

But Jesus heard them, and he was displeased, not 
with the parents and their children, but with his disciples. 

"Let the little ones come to me," he said, "and do 
not stop them; for the kingdom of God comes only to 
those who are child-like. I tell you, whoever will not 
give himself up to the kingdom of God as a little child 
shall never come into the kingdom." 

Then he took the little ones up into his arms, laid 
his hands upon them and gave them his blessing. After 
that he went away from that place. 

Soon afterward a young man who was one of the 
leaders in the church of his town came running, and 
bowed low before Jesus. "Good Teacher," said the 
young man, "tell me what to do if I am to be saved and 
have life everlasting." 

"Why do you call me 'good'?" answered Jesus. 
"There is only one who is really good; that is God. 
To be saved, you have only to do God's will. You 
know what his commandments are; keep them." 

341 




342 



ftfte little Cfjtibren 



"Why, what commands do you mean?" asked the 
young man. He supposed that Jesus, like many of the 
scribes, who were the teachers of God's law, had given 
some special rules of his own. 

Jesus said to him, "I mean the ten commandments 
of God, such as, 'Thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not 







f%4 


^j 


j'Wm^' j- v r 






Ka "•* *S*'J 


BHHHHraHHHBBVIIBHIil^WKi 





Jesus laid his hands upon the little ones and gave them his blessing 

kill; thou shalt not say what is false; honor thy father 
and thy mother,' and so on." 

The young man said, "Teacher, all these I have 
kept ever since I was a child. What more do I need?" 

As Jesus looked at this young man, so eager in his 
wish to please God, he loved him, and felt a special 
longing to have him among his disciples. 

"If you really wish to be perfect," he said to the 
young man, "you do need one thing more, Sell every- 

343 



Z\)t Hittle Cfjilurcn 



thing that you have, and give all the money to the poor, 
and you will have your treasure in heaven; and come, 
follow me, and be one of my disciples." 

When the young man heard those words, he felt 
greatly disappointed, and turned away, unwilling to do 
what Jesus asked, for he was very rich, and he loved his 
money. After he had left them, Jesus turned to his 
disciples: 

"How hard it is," said Jesus "for a rich man to 
come into the kingdom of God!" 

As the disciples heard this, they were greatly sur- 
prised, for all the Jews thought that to have riches was 
a sign of God's special favor. As they stood silent, not 
knowing how to answer these words, Jesus said again: 

"Children, how hard it is for those who trust in 
their riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is 
easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than 
for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God!" 

They were amazed at this, and said, "Then who 
can be saved?" 

"What is impossible with men," answered Jesus, 
"is possible with God." 

"But we," said Simon Peter, "have left everything, 
and have followed you. What shall we have in the 
kingdom for all this?" 

Peter thought, as did all the crowds who were going 
up to Jerusalem with Jesus, that there he would set up 
his kingdom and give rich rewards to his disciples. 

"In truth I say to you," answered Jesus, "that you 
who have followed me, in the new kingdom when the 
Son of Man shall sit upon his throne, you twelve men, 
my disciples, shall sit upon twelve thrones, ruling over 
the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left 
home, or wife, or children, or parents, or brothers, or 
-istcrs on my account, and for the sake of God's king- 
344 




"Let the little ones conic to inc." said Jesus, "for the kingdom of God comes 
only to those who are childlike." 



Cfje TLittlt Cfjilbren 



dom, shall receive in this life a hundred times as much as 
he has lost, and in the world to come, life everlasting. 
But many that are first in this world shall be last in the 
kingdom; and some that are the lowest here will be the 
highest there." 




The Bay of Acre and the modern town Haifti 



;j45 



QLijt TOorfeers; m tfje ^tneparb 

CHAPTER 69 

JESUS EXPLAINED by a parable what he meant in 
saying, "Many that are first shall be last, and some 
that are lowest here will be the highest in God's 
kingdom." This parable was "The Workers in the 
Vineyard." 

"There was a man," said Jesus, "who owned a 
vineyard. He needed men to work in his vineyard; 
and one day, early in the morning, went out to hire them. 
Some men met him and agreed to work for him at fifteen 
cents for each day's work; so he sent them out to his 
vineyard. At about nine o'clock he was walking through 
the market place, and seeing some other men standing 
around, waiting for work, he said to them: 

" 'You go to work in my vineyard, and whatever is 
fair, I will pay you.' 

"He went out again at noon; he found men wanting 
work and sent them also into his vineyard, saying to 
them, 'Whatever are fair wages, I will pay you.' Again 
at three o'clock, he found other men and sent them, too, 
making them the same promise. He went into the mar- 
ket place at five o'clock, almost at the end of the day, 
and found some men standing there. 'Why do you 
stand here doing nothing?' he said to these men. They 
answered him: 

" 'We would be glad to work; but nobody is ready 
to hire us.' 

" 'You go into my vineyard, too/ he said, 'and I 
will pay you whatever is right.' 

"When the evening came, the master of the vine- 
346 



Cfje WLovbtvz in tJje Uinejwts 



yard said to his foreman, ' Now call the workers together 
and pay them their wages. Begin with those who came 
to work last, then pay those who went into the vineyard 
at three o'clock, and so on, ending with those who went 
to work earliest.' 

"So those came up first who had been hired last, 
and had worked only one hour; and to each of thern was 
paid fifteen cents, the wages of a full day's work. When 
the first came, they supposed that they would be paid 
more, because they had worked longer; but each was 
paid his fifteen cents, as had been agreed upon. These 
men complained to the master of the vineyard. 

" ' Those men who came in last, when the day was 
almost ended,' they said, 'have been made equal to us, 
who have borne the hard work and the heat of the day. 
That is not fair!' 

" 'My friend,' said the master to one of these men, 
'I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me to 
work for fifteen cents a day? Take up your wages and 
go. I choose to give to this last man the same as to 
you. Haven't I the right do so as I please with what 
belongs to me? Are you jealous because I am generous?' 

"So," said Jesus, "there are last who will be first; 
and there are first who will be last." 

This parable shows how God gives his rewards 
differently from men. Men pay only for work that is 
done; but God gives his pay to those who are willing to 
work for him, whether they are able to work or not; 
for while men look at the deed, God looks at the heart. 

Every day Jesus was drawing nearer to Jerusalem, 
and his twelve disciples with all the multitude of those 
who were following him, fully expected that in Jerusalem 
Jesus would reign as the King of Israel. He had told 
them before, and more than once, that he was going 
up to Jerusalem to die there; but their minds were so 

347 



®f)e ft&lorfeers; in tf)e T^neparb 



fixed upon thrones and kingdoms and worldly power 
that they could not understand his words. 

Now Jesus called together his twelve disciples, 
apart from the crowd. 

"Listen!" he said, "We are going up to Jerusalem, 
and there everything that is written in the books of the 
prophets about the Son of Man shall come to pass. He 
will be given up to his enemies, the chief priests and the 
scribes, the teachers of the law; and they shall sentence 
him to be put to death, and shall hand him over to the 
Romans to be mocked and beaten and nailed to a cross to 
die; and on the third day after, he will rise from the dead." 

But the disciples did not understand what these words 
meant. They were just as certain as they had been 
before, that he was going up to Jerusalem to take the throne 
and rule, and they even talked among themselves about 
the chief offices in his kingdom and who should have 
them. 

When they were drawing near to Jerusalem, but still 
in the land of Perea, a woman came to Jesus with her 
two sons. This woman was named Salome; and she 
was the wife of Zebedee, and the mother of James and 
John, two of the leading disciples of Jesus. She bowed 
low even to the ground before Jesus, and begged him to 
grant her a favor. 

"What is it that you want?" said Jesus to her. 

"I want you to promise me," said Salome, "that in 
your kingdom these two sons of mine shall sit, one on 
your right hand and the other on your left." 

"You do not know what you are asking," answered 
Jesus. " Can you drink of the cup that I am to drink? Can 
you receive the same baptism that is coming to me?" 

"Yes," the two men said, "we can!" 

"You shall indeed drink my cup, and be baptized 
with my baptism," said Jesus. "But it is not mine to 
348 



W\)t Worker* in tfje "^tneparti 



say who shall sit on my right hand and on my left. 
Those places shall be given to those whom my Father 
has chosen for them." 

By his cup and his baptism, Jesus meant his suffer- 
ings and his death; but this James and John did not 
know. When the other ten disciples heard of this they 
were very angry with the two brothers for trying to get 
ahead of them. But Jesus called them to him and said: 

"You know that in the nations of this world their 
rulers lord it over them, and their great men make the 
people serve them. But it must not be so with you. 
Whoever among you has the will to be great, let him be 
a servant to the others; and whoever would be first, let 
him be even as a slave. For the Son of Man came not 
to be served, but to serve, and to give up his life that he 
may save many." 




The river Jordan 



349 




Bartimeus, hearing that Jesus had sent for him, sprang up and flung his coat to 
the ground, and was led to Jesus. 

356 



Sije pltnb jHan at tfjc #ate 

CHAPTER 70 

JESUS HAD now ended his work of preaching in the 
land of Perea, on the east of the Jordan. With his 
disciples and a great throng of people who were 
going up to the feast of the Passover at Jerusalem, he 
came to the river at another Bethabara, or "the place 
of the crossing/' because like the Bethabara near the 
Sea of Galilee, the river though very wide was very 
shallow, so that people could wade across it. This 
Bethabara was opposite the city of Jericho, which had 
been built up and made beautiful by King Herod the 
Great, about forty years before. 

More than a thousand years before Jesus stood 
beside the river, the Israelites had walked across it to 
enter the land; when God held back the water. Jesus 
could have walked on the water if he had chosen to do it ; 
but he never caused a miracle for himself, though often he 
did for others. At that time some of the people going up 
to Jerusalem waded across the river, holding their clothes 
on their heads, while others crossed in a ferry-boat. We 
are not told in which way Jesus went across the river. 

Six miles from the river Jordan, on the west, stood 
Jericho, toward which Jesus came with a great crowd of 
people around him. As he drew near Jericho, a blind 
man was seated beside the gate, begging for the small 
coins of those who passed by. This blind man's name 
was Bartimeus, a word which means "the son of 
Timeus." Hearing the tramping and the voices of a 
crowd, he asked why so many people were coming. 
They said to him: 

351 



Clje pltnb jfflan at tfje <£ate 



"Jesus the Nazarene is passing by." 

Bartimeus had heard of Jesus and his good works, 
curing man}' that were blind and lame and lepers. He 
had often wished that Jesus might pass his way and 
cure him. Now, when he heard that Jesus was really 
coming, he shouted out at the top of his voice : 

" Jesus, son of David, have pity on me! Jesus, son 
of David, have pity on me!" 

The people who were in front told him to be quiet; 
but he felt that this was the chance of his life, and he 
kept on calling, " Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!" 

Jesus stopped, and said to those near, "Go, and 
bring this man to me." 

Then they said to Bartimeus, "Be of good cheer; 
get up and go to Jesus, for he is calling you!" 

Bartimeus was in such a hurry to get to Jesus that 
he sprang up, flung aside his cloak, and left it on the 
ground, while they led him to the Lord. When he 
came near, Jesus said to him: 

"What would you have me do for you?" 

"Lord," he answered, "let me have my sight 
again!" 

"Have your sight," said Jesus, "your faith has 
made you well." 

And at once his sight came back to him; and he 
joined the crowd following Jesus, giving praise to God 
with a loud voice. And all those who saw this wonder- 
ful work added their praises to God. 



352 



3ln tfje 3B.tcJj iHatt's: 2|ome at fertrijo 

CHAPTER 71 

BUT BLIND Bartimeus was not the only man in 
Jericho who was eager to meet Jesus. In that 
city was living a very rich man named Zacc eus, 
who was the head of all the tax collectors in that part 
of the country. He had heard that Jesus was unlike 
other Jews, in being friendly toward the tax gatherers, 
and he greatly desired to see him. But Zaccheus was a 
small man, and in the crowd he could have no chance to 
look at Jesus, so he ran on ahead and climbed up into 
a mulberry tree that stood beside the road, and from a 
place among its branches he could look down upon the 
passing multitude. 

When Jesus came opposite to the tree, he stopped, 
looked up and saw Zaccheus, and said to him: 

" Zaccheus, make haste and come down; for I must 
stop at your house today!" 

He was surprised and glad that the great Teacher 
should choose his house, out of all the homes in Jericho, 
to stay in. He came down and walked with Jesus to 
his house. But all the people began to find fault, saying: 

"He has gone to visit at the house of a man who is a 
sinner!" 

For they took for granted because many of the tax 
gatherers were wicked men and robbed the people, that 
all of them were bad. 

Zaccheus knew how they were feeling and what they 
were saying; so he came forward, and stood before 
Jesus and said: 

"Hear me, Master! I will give half of all that I 
23 353 




Jesus called out to Zaccheus in the tree: "Make haste and come down, 
must stop at your house today!" 



3.54 



3n tfje &tcf) Jfflan's; ?|ome at Jferirtjo 

own to help the poor; and if I have robbed or cheated 
anyone, I will pay him back four times as much as he 
has lost!" 

"Today," said Jesus, "in this house a man has been 
saved from his sins ; since even Zaccheus here is a true 
son of Abraham our father. For the Son of Man has 
come to look after the lost ones and to save them." 

As the people were listening, he went on and spoke 
a parable to them; for he knew that as he was going up 
to Jerusalem, they were looking for the kingdom of God 
to be set up at once. This was "The Parable of the 
Pounds." 

"A certain prince," said Jesus, "was going to a 
city far awa} r , to be made a king, and then to come back 
and rule over his own land. Before leaving, he called 
ten of his servants, and gave to each one five hundred 
dollars, and said to him, ' Trade with this until I come 
back.' Then he went away. 

"But the people of his land hated him, and sent 
messengers to follow him to the distant city and to say, 
'We will not have this man as our king.' 

"However, the prince was made king and came 
home to reign over his land. Then he sent for his ser- 
vants to whom he had given the money, so that he might 
learn how much each one had made by buying and 
selling. The first servant came and said: 

" 'My lord, the five hundred dollars which you 
gave me has gained five thousand dollars.' 

" 'Well done, you good servant,' said the king, 
'because you have been so wise and faithful with a 
small amount, I will make you the governor over ten 
cities in my kingdom.' 

"Then came another servant, who said, 'My lord, 
your five hundred dollars has made five times as much as 
you gave me. Here are twenty-five hundred dollars.' 

355 



3n tfje Etc!) iflan'S S>ome at fericfjo 

•• 'Very well,' answered the king, 'you may be the 
ruler over five cities.' 

"Soon one of the servants came, saying, 'My lord, 
here is your five hundred dollars, just as you gave it to 
me. I have kept it safe for you, wrapped up in a napkin. 
For I was afraid of you; you are such a hard, selfish 
man. You pick up what you never put down ; and you 
reap what you do not sow.' 

11 'You worthless servant!' answered the king, 'out 
of your own words will I pass judgment upon you. 
You knew, did you, that I was a hard man, picking up 
what I never put down, and reaping what I did not 
bow! If you knew this, why then did you not put my 
money into the bank? Then when I came home I could 
have gotten interest upon it, the money gained by lend- 
ing it.' 

"Then he said to those standing b} r , 'Take away 
from him the five hundred dollars, and give it to the one 
who has five thousand dollars!' 

" 'My lord,' they said, 'why, he has five thousand 
dollars already! Why give it to him?' 

" 'That is the very reason why he should have it/ 
said the king. 'I tell you, that to him who has, more 
shall be given; and as for him who has not, even the 
little that he has shall be taken away from him.' ' 

" 'And now, for these enemies of mine,' the king 
went on, 'those men who sent word that they would not 
have me for their king, seize them, and bind them in 
chains and bring them here. Let them be slain in mv 
sight!'" 

With these words Jesus went onward up the moun- 
tain road leading to Jerusalem. 



356 



^t maba&ttv Jar 

CHAPTER 72 

FROM JERICHO to Jerusalem was a journey of 
fifteen miles up the mountains by a very steep 
road; a road often dangerous on account of the 
robbers who were hidden among the rocks by the way- 
side. But at the time of the Passover when thousands 
of people were going up to the feast, it was safe, through 
the crowds traveling together. Up this road Jesus 
walked with his disciples and a great throng of people, 
all on their way to the Passover. He did not, however, 
go directly to Jerusalem, but turned aside when near 
the city, and stopped at the village of Bethany for a 
visit with his friends, Martha and Mary and Lazarus. 
They were very, very glad to see Jesus now, for you 
remember that on his last visit, some months before, he 
had called Lazarus out of his tomb to live again. 

It was on Friday, just six days before the Passover 
was to be held, that Jesus came to Bethany. There, at 
the house of a man named Simon, a supper was given in 
honor of Jesus. This Simon had been a leper, but had 
been cured by Jesus, so that he had his own reason for 
showing love and honor to Jesus. At the supper, the 
guests sat leaning on couches, with their heads toward 
the table and their feet away from it; and those who 
waited at the tables passed the food and drink around to 
the guests. Among those who were serving at the table 
was Martha, the sister of Lazarus. 

On the couch standing at the head of the table was 
leaning in the middle Simon, who gave the feast. On 
his right hand, in the place of honor, was Jesus; and on 

357 



W Hfl 




. •,■<£* 


Btt 












H 








E * 




!^*23^ 



Mary anointing Jesus' feet with fragrant oil trom the alabaster jar 



358 



Wfje Alabaster fat 



his left was Lazarus. On the side tables were lying the 
disciples of Jesus and other guests. 

Suddenly, into the room came Mary, the sister of 
Lazarus. She carried in her arms a jar made of marble, 
of the kind called alabaster. Its cover was sealed; but 
Mary broke the seal, and at once a rich perfume arose in 
the air and floated not only through the dining hall, but 




Judas secrelly bargaining with the chief priests for the betrayal of Jesus 
into their hands 

the whole house, for the jar was filled with a very 
fragrant and costly oil. Mary walked up the aisle 
between the tables and the couches whereon the guests 
were lying. She came opposite to Jesus, and poured 
some of the oil upon his head; then walked around the 
couch, poured the rest of it upon his feet and wiped them 
with her long hair, hanging loose upon her shoulders. 

Everybody in the room was surprised at Mary's 
act; and one of the disciples of Jesus said aloud: 

359 



Cfje Alabaster far 



"What a waste this is? Why, that jar of perfume 
was worth at least fifty dollars ! It might have been sold 
and the money given to the poor!" 

The one who said this was Judas Iscariot, the 
wicked disciple who was already planning to give up his 
Lord to his enemies, the chief priests and rulers. Judas 
was the treasurer for Jesus and his twelve disciples. 
They all lived as one family, kept their money in one 
purse, and in addition whatever money was given to 
Jesus by his friends. Judas kept this purse; but he was 
a thief, and stole some of the money, that he might use 
it for himself. When Judas saw all the precious oil 
poured upon the head and feet of Jesus, he was angry, 
for he looked upon it as so much money that he might 
have kept. 

"Why do you find fault with this woman?" said 
Jesus. "It is a beautiful thing that she has done to me. 
You will always have the poor with you, but you will not 
always have me. As she poured this perfume on my 
body, she did it for my burial, which is soon to take 
place. I tell you, wherever in the whole world my gospel 
shall be preached, the act of this woman will be told, and 
she will be remembered on account of it." 

All the friends of Jesus were expecting him soon to 
go to Jerusalem and set up his kingdom and rule. They 
did not understand his words about dying and rising 
from the dead. But Mary, among them all, knew that 
Jesus was soon to die, and it was not only to show her 
love toward him for bringing her brother to life, but in 
a very tender way to put into an act what she would 
not say in words, that her Lord would soon die and be 
buried. 

After this supper, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who 
had spoken against Mary and her gift, quietly made up 
his mind to give Jesus over to his enemies. He saw 
360 



Wje alabaster Jar 



that Jesus would not be such a king as he wished him to 
be, and he had begun to fear that his stealings were 
known, or at least suspected. He went secretly to the 
chief priests and the rulers and said to them : 

"What will you pay me if I will give Jesus into your 
hands?" 

They were glad to hear this, and said to him, "We 
will give you thirty pieces of silver." 

This was a little less than twenty dollars in our 
money, and it was the price paid for a slave. Think of 
it, for the value of a slave, the Lord of all the earth was 
sold b} r one of his own chosen followers! 

Judas was sharp in his dealing with the priests. 
He was afraid that, after he had given Jesus up to them, 
he might be cheated out of his money. So he said: 

"Pay me the money now; and when the right time 
comes, I will show you how to make Jesus of Nazareth 
your prisoner." 

They gave Judas the thirty pieces of silver; and 
from that moment Judas was looking for the chance to 
put Jesus into the hands of his enemies. 




Jewish shekel 



361 



$alm gmnbap 

CHAPTER 73 

THE NEWS that Jesus was at Bethany went abroad, 
and very soon the village was thronged with 
people eager to see him. Many of these were men 
who had come from the country up to Jerusalem for the 
feasl of the Passover; and most of them were ready to 
believe in Jesus as the Christ, the promised King of 
Israel. Some came to Bethany, not. only to see Jesus, 
but to see Lazarus also, the man whom Jesus had raised 
from death to life. The rulers, who had already made 
up their minds to put Jesus to death and had paid Judas 
to give him up to them, said to each other: 

"If we are to prevent these people from making 
Jesus of Nazareth their king, it will not be enough to 
kill Jesus; we must first kill Lazarus, for on his account 
many are following Jesus." 

On the morning after the supper at Simon's house, 
Jesus decided to go into Jerusalem. He called two of 
his disciples and said to them: 

"Go into the next village on the road to Jerusalem, 
and just on the edge of it you will find an ass tied, and 
with it a colt on which no one has ever ridden; untie 
them and bring them to me. If anyone asks you, 'Why 
are you doing that?' tell him, 'The Master needs them; 
and will send them back soon;' and he will let you take 
the ass and the colt." 

The two disciples went to the village, and found in 
the street in front of a house an ass and a colt tied just 
as Jesus had said. They were untying them when the 
owner, who was standing by, said: 
362 



$alm ^tutbap 



"What are you doing, untying the ass?" 

"The Master needs it," answered the disciples; and 

when the man heard this, he allowed them to take the 

ass and the colt. They brought them to Jesus at 

Bethany; and on the ass-colt they laid their cloaks, to 

form a cushion for Jesus; and he 

sat upon the colt, which never be- 
fore had been ridden upon. Then 
the crowd, seeing that Jesus was 
riding toward Jerusalem, walked 
with him, some going before and 




The brook Kedron 

some following after. Those in front spread their clothes 
upon the road before Jesus; others threw on the ground 
leaves from the field; while many waved branches of 
palm taken from the trees beside the road. 

And before they came to the top of the Mount of 
Olives, which was between Bethany and Jerusalem, 
another crowd of people met them, coming from the city to 
sec Jesus. And all the multitude shouted together: 

363 



ijialm ifeimbap 



"God save the King, the Son of David! Blessed is 
he who comes in the Lord's name! Blessed is the king- 
dom of our father David! Praises be to the Lord!" 

For all this crowd of people believed that now, at 
last, the kingdom of God was to be set up, with Jesus 
as Christ and King. But in the multitude were some 
Pharisees, enemies of Jesus, who became very angry as 
they saw the crowd waving the palm branches and cheer- 
ing for Jesus as King. These men came up to Jesus as 
he was riding and said to him: 

''Teacher, tell your followers to stop this noise!" 

"I tell you," answered Jesus, ''that if these men 
should keep still, the very stones would cry out!" 

Soon they came to the top of the Mount of Olives, 
and then the Temple and the city of Jerusalem were in 
sight before them. 

As Jesus looked upon the city, the tears came into 
his eyes and he said: 

"0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem! If only you might know, 
even now, while yet there is time, what would give you 
peace! But no, it is hidden from your sight! The 
time is coming when your enemies will build walls and 
forts around you, and shut you in on every side; and 
trample you down into the dust, and your children with 
you. They will not leave in you one stone standing upon 
another — and all because you would not understand 
when the Lord was visiting you." 

Jesus rode down the Mount of Olives, and across the 
valley of the brook Kedron. At the gate of the Temple 
he got off from the back of the colt, and sent it with 
the ass back to its owner. As he came into the city and 
the Temple there was a great stir, the people everywhere 
flocking to meet him. 

"Who is this?" they said; and the crowds answered, 
"This is the Prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee!" 
364 




Many waved branches of palm, and all the multitude shouted together: "God 

save the King, the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in 

the Lord's name!" 



$alm g>tmbap 



The Pharisees said to each other, "We can do 
nothing! The whole world has gone after Jesus!" 

Everybody, both the friends and enemies of Jesus, 
looked to have him take control of the city and act as 
a king. But Jesus only went into the Temple and 
walked around it. By this time it was evening, and 
Jesus returned with his disciples to Bethany. 

Forty years after that time, the terrible things that 
Jesus declared were to fall upon Jerusalem, did come to 
pass. The Jews rose against the Romans and made 
war upon them. A mighty Roman army came, and 
swept over all the land, bringing ruin and death every- 
where. The Romans laid siege to Jerusalem, and built 
a strong wall around it, so that no one could come out 
or go in. The people fought desperately, until they were 
starved and could fight no more. At last the Romans 
broke into the Temple, and set the city on fire. Both 
the Temple and all the city were utterly destroyed; 
untold thousands of the people were slain, and many 
thousands more were sold as slaves. And from that 
time, seventy years after Jesus was born, and forty years 
after he died on the cross, the Jews have not had of 
their own a land or a city. 



365 




hintr in the Temple all day, Jesus went out in the evening over the 
Mount of Olives to the home of his friends in Bethany. 



366 



jHonbap on tfje iilount anb in tfje 
temple 

CHAPTER 74 

A FTER THE royal coming of Jesus to the city and 
A-\ the Temple, on the next morning— which was 
Monday — Jesus left Bethany very early, without 
waiting for his breakfast, and with his twelve disciples 
walked over the Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem. 
The walk and the early morning air made him hungry, 
and seeing a fig tree covered with green leaves in a field 
near the road, he went to it, hoping to find some figs 
upon it. 

The laws of the Jews allowed any person passing by 
a field which was not his own, to take as much fruit or 
grain as he wished to eat, but not to carry any away; 
so that Jesus had a right to go to this tree and help 
himself to its fruit. Jesus knew that it was not quite 
the time for ripe figs, for they do not become ripe in 
that country before May or June, and that day may 
have been in March. But on the sunny slope of the 
Mount of Olives figs often ripen early in the season and 
as the figs always come before the leaves, wherever the 
leaves were abundant, there might be among them some 
ripe figs. 

But when Jesus came to the fig tree, and looked at 
it closely, he found that upon it was no fruit, either ripe 
or green, but only leaves. Then a thought came to 
Jesus, and in the presence of his disciples he spoke to 
the fig tree. 

"From this time let no fruit ever be picked from this 
tree forever!" he said. 

367 



ittondap on tfje iflount 



This was not because Jesus was angry with the poor 
tree, which could not help not having fruit. It was 
because he saw in that tree a parable or picture of the 
Jewish people. They made a show of serving God, and 
were like trees covered with leaves; but they did not 
bring forth the fruit of good lives, of love to God and 

Pbh m mm mmm wmmm their fellow-men. 
Ill 



They were fruit- 
less trees, and 
trees which have 
been planted and 
kept for fruit 
are of no use 
without fruit. 

The twelve 
disciples who were 
with Jesus around 
the fig tree heard 
those words, and 
soon had cause to 
remember them. 

From the 
Mount of Olives 
they walked, as 
on the day before, 
across the valley 
of the brook 
Kedron , and 
again came into the Temple. You remember that two 
years before when Jesus visited the Temple, he then 
drove out from its court all the people that he found 
buying and selling and changing money. But in the two 
years that had passed, they had all come back, and the 
Court of the Gentiles was again a place of business and 
of confusion. All around were oxen lowing and sheep 
368 




As the traders looked upon Jesus and heard his 
stern rebuke, they became afraid and rushed 
out of the court before him 



Jfflonbap on tfje Jlount 



bleating; their owners calling upon the people passing 
by to come and buy them; cages full of pigeons and 
doves were standing on every side; and from a row of 
tables might be heard the chink of silver, as the money 
of foreign lands was changed for that of Judea. 

When these traders saw Jesus standing before them, 
some of them could remember how two years before he 
had driven them out of the Temple, and all saw in him 
the man whom only yesterday the people had welcomed 
as the coming King of Israel. There was a look upon 
the face of Jesus which made all these wrongdoers afraid 
of him; and when he spoke in the hearing of them all, 
"God's book says, 'My house shall be called a house of 
prayer; but you are making it a den of robbers,' " with 
one accord they rushed out of the court before him, 
driving out the sheep and oxen, canying away the 
cages of doves, and even upsetting the tables of the 
money-changers. 

Jesus saw that people who were coming from out- 
side the wall were canying goods and jars of water and 
of oil through the Court of the Gentiles as the nearest 
way to the city, so that the court was becoming merely 
a street between the city and the country. He put a 
stop to this carrying of loads through the Temple courts; 
and would not allow even a jar of water to be taken by 
way of the Temple into the city. This building in all 
its parts was the house of God, and Jesus as the Son 
of God gave commands that everywhere it was to be 
used only for the worship of his heavenly Father. 

After casting out all these evil things from the outer 
court, Jesus walked up the steps to the inner court, 
called the Treasury. There he sat down, and for the 
rest of the day taught the people who crowded around 
him. 

While lie was in the Treasury, they led to him the 
« 369 



iflonbap on tfje ittount 



blind, and he gave them .sight by a word; and the lame 
came in on crutches, or were carried in by their friends 
to his feet, and he gave them power to walk. Boys too 
were marching around the Temple and shouting every- 
where, "May God save the Son of David!" 

All these things made the priests and the rulers 
very angry; for they were only waiting for a chance to 
find Jesus alone and make him their prisoner, and they 
could do nothing while such crowds were around him, all 
believing that he was the promised Son of David and 
King of Israel. But these enemies of Jesus could not 
keep quiet amid all these praises. 

"Do you hear," they said to Jesus, "what these 
boys are shouting? Why do you not tell them to be 
still?" 

"Yes, I hear them," answered Jesus, "and have } T ou 
never read what is said in the book of Psalms, 'Out of 
the lips of little children, even of babies in their mothers' 
arms, thy praises have been made perfect?' " 

Jesus stayed in the Temple teaching until the 
evening drew near. Then he went with his disciples 
back to Bethany for the night. There among his 
friends he was safe. 



370 



Cuesflap jfHormng in tfje temple 

CHAPTER 75 

AGAIX ON Tuesday morning of that great week, the 
last week of our Saviour's life on earth, he went 
with his disciples out of Bethany to go to Jerusa- 
lem. As they were walking up the Mount of Olives, 
they came to the fig tree to which Jesus had spoken on 
the morning before. It was standing upon the hillside, 
but withered and dead, its dry leaves turned yellow, 
rustling in the wind. 

"Master, look!" said Peter, "the fig tree to which 
you spoke those words yesterday is all withered!" 

•''Have faith in God," answered Jesus. "I tell you 
in truth, that if any one of you should say to this moun- 
tain before us, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' 
and should not have in his mind a doubt, but believes 
that what he says will come to pass, it shall be done. 
So I say to you, whatever you pray God for, believe that 
God gives it to you, and it shall be yours. But keep this 
also in mind, whenever you stand up for prayer, if there 
is anything that you have against anybody, forgive him. 
Then, and then only, will your Father in heaven forgive 
you your sins against him." 

Again they came to Jerusalem, and walked across 
the Court of the Gentiles now quiet and free from the 
confusion of the morning before, no buying, no selling, 
and no carrying of loads through it to the city. They 
went into the Treasury, where Jesus had taught and 
cured on the day before; and they found it already full 
of people who had come together, hoping to listen again 
to the words of the great Teacher. 

371 




The chief priests angrily demanded of Jesus: "What right have you to come 
here and act as a ruler?" 



372 



GTtiesibap jHormng in tfje temple 

But not only were there in the Temple 
people friendly to Jesus, and eager to hear him; 
the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the 
members of the great council, were also there, ready 
to do all in their power against him. These men 
were very angry at Jesus for what he had done on 
the day before. They pushed their waj r through 
the crowds up to Jesus, and said to him, with an air of 
lordship : 

"What right have you to come here and act as a 
ruler? Who gave you the right to do what you did 
yesterday?" 

"I will ask you a question," answered Jesus 
promptly, ''and if you will answer that, then I 
will tell you who has given me the right to do 
what I have done here in the Temple. What do 
you say about John the Baptist — did he speak the 
words of God as his messenger? Or did he 
speak his own words only, without authority or 
power from God? Answer me that question!" 

They were taken aback at this answer of Jesus; 
and began talking together, while the crowd around 
looked on. 

"What shall we say?" they whispered to each 
other. "If we say, 'John the Baptist spoke from 
God,' he will ask, 'Then why did you not believe 
his words and obey him?' No, let us say, 'He spoke 
only as a man, without authority or power from 
God.' But then, if we say that, the people will stone 
us, for they all believe that John was a true prophet 
of God." 

So after a time these men said to Jesus, "We 
cannot answer your question. We don't know 
whether John spoke the words of God or his own 
words." 

373 



£uesbat> ittorning; in tfjc temple 



Then said Jesus, "No more will I tell you who has 
given me the power to do these things." 

For Jesus well knew that if these men had 
not believed when John the Baptist said, "Thus 
saith the Lord," they would not believe him 
saying, "I do only what my Father tells me to 
do." 



F 








■ -JaJM 






^niil" 


^^r^ji 



The pool of Mamilla, at Jerusalem 



:;?i 



®bree parables of OTarmng 

CHAPTER 76 

IMMEDIATELY after answering the question of the 
priests and the rulers, Jesus gave three parables, one 
directly after another; and all aimed at his enemies. 
The first was "The Parable of the Two Sons." 

"What do you think of this?" said Jesus. "There 
was a man who had two sons. He went to the older 
son, and said to him, ' My son, go and work in the vine- 
yard toda}'.' 'Yes, sir,' said the young man. 'I will 
go.' But although he had given his promise to go, he 
broke it, for he did not go. 

"Then the father spoke to his second son, as he had 
spoken to the first. 'My son, go and work today in 
the vineyard.' This one said to his father, 'I will not 
go.' But afterward he was sorry, and went into the 
vineyard to work. Now tell me, which of these two sons 
did as his father told him to do?" 

They answered him, "The second." 

"I tell you truly," said Jesus, "that the tax-gather- 
ers and the bad women are going into the kingdom of 
God instead of you, who believe yourselves to be better 
than others. For John the Baptist came and showed 
you how to live, and you would not believe him nor do 
as he said. But the tax-gatherers and the bad women 
believed him and turned from their evil ways to God. 
And even when you saw them turning from evil to good, 
you would not seek God after them and follow the words 
of John." 

Then Jesus spoke to these rulers another parable, 
called "The Parable of the Wicked Vine-dressers." 

375 



Ci)ree parables of Earning 



■• Listen to another parable," he said. "A man 
who owned some land planted upon it a vineyard of 
grape-vines. He put a fence around it, dug a wine-vat 
inside it, and built a tower in the middle of the vineyard, 
so that a watchman might be on the lookout against 
thieves. Then he let it out to vine-dressers, to take 

care of it, and at 
the time of ripe 
grapes to send 
him his share of 
the fruit or its 
worth in money. 
After leasing the 
vineyard, he 
went away to an- 
other country. 

"When the 
time for the vint- 
age drew near, 
the time for gath- 
ering the grapes, 
he sent his ser- 
vantsfor his share 
of the fruit. But 
instead of giving 
him what be- 

Vineyard and watch-tower in Bethlehem lonffed to him 

the vine-dressers seized his servants. One servant 
they flogged and drove away, another they killed, 
and a third they stoned. A second time the owner sent 
some other servants, more than before; and the vine- 
dressers treated them in the same way. And so it was 
with many others; some they beat and some they 
killed. 

"The owner of the vineyard had one son, a young 
376 




&J)ree $ arable* of Naming 



man, whom he loved very dearly. Last of all he sent 
this son to them, saying to himself, 'They will surely 
respect my son, and will not treat him as they have 
treated the servants.' 

"But those men said, as soon as they saw him, 
'This is the one who is to own the vineyard when his 
father dies. Let us kill him, and then the vineyard 
will be ours.' So when he came, they seized him and 
killed him, and flung his body outside the vineyard. 

"Now, I will ask you," said Jesus, "when the owner 
of that vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine- 
dressers?" 

They answered, "He will utterly destroy those vile, 
cruel men, and will lease his vineyard to other vine- 
dressers, who will give him every year his share of the 
fruit." 

"Have you never read this verse," said Jesus. 

"The stone which the builders refused 
Has now become the chief and corner-stone; 
This is the work of the Lord, 
And it is wonderful in our sight?" 

"I tell you," added Jesus, "that the kingdom of 
God shall be taken from you and given to a people that 
brings to God its fruits. Yes, and he who falls on this 
stone shall be dashed to pieces; and whoever this stone 
falls on shall be ground to powder!" 

As the chief priests and Pharisees and rulers heard 
these parables, they knew at once that they were spoken 
against them. They were eager to seize Jesus, but were 
afraid of the crowds around, for all the common people 
looked upon him as a prophet speaking God's word. 

Jesus gave a third parable: that of "The Marriage 
of the King's Son." This, given in the Temple, was in 
some parts like another, "The Parable of the Great 
Feast," which he had already given in Perea; but other 

377 



Cfjree parables of SHHarning 



parts of it, as we shall see, were different from that 
parable. 

''There was a certain king," said Jesus, "who gave 
a great supper at the marriage of his son. He sent out 
his servants to those who had been invited to the feast, 
but the}- would not come. Once again he sent some 
other servants, and told them to say to the guests: 

" 'Here is m} r supper all ready, the oxen and fat 
cattle have been killed; everything is ready; come to 
the feast.' 

"But they paid no attention to his words, and went 
off, one to his farm and another to his shop. And some 
seized his servants, ill-treated them and even killed them. 
This made the king very angry. He sent his army, put 
those murderers to death and burned up their city. 

"Then the king said to his servants, 'The marriage 
feast is ready; but those who were the invited guests 
were not fit for it. Go out into the streets of the city 
and the roads in the countrj r , and ask everybody whom 
you meet to come to the wedding.' The servants went 
forth into the roads, and brought to the feast all whom 
they met, both the bad and the good. So the marriage 
supper had plenty of guests. 

"When the king came in to meet the guests, he saw 
a man among them who was not wearing a wedding robe. 
For as each guest came to the house, a beautiful robe was 
given him, to be worn at the supper. 

" 'My friend,' said the king to this man, 'how was 
it that you came in here without a wedding robe?' 

"The man stood silent, for he had nothing to say. 
Then said the king to his servants: 

" 'Tie this man hand and foot, and throw him out 
of doors into the darkness. There men will wail and 
gnash their teeth. For I tell you that many are invited, 
but few are chosen,' " 
378 



1 



Zi)t Heab on tfje Coin 



CHAPTER 77 



THE ENEMIES of Jesus thought that, perhaps, 
they might lead him to say some words against 
the Roman rulers over the land. If he would do 
this, then they could complain to the Roman governor 
and cause Jesus 
to be seized 
and put in 
prison, or even 
slain, as an 
enemy of the 
Roman state. 
These priests 
and Pharisees 
and rulers 
themselves ha- 
ted the Romans, 
and w o u 1 d 
gladly throw off 
the Roman yoke 
if they dared to 
do it; but they 
were willing to 
pretend friend- 
liness to their 
Roman mas- 
ters, if only through them they could destroy Jesus. 
With this purpose in mind, while Jesus was in the 
Temple on that Tuesday morning, they sent to him some 
men whom Jesus had never met, men who seemed honest 

379 




The head on the coin 



Ctje J^cab on tfje Coin 



and true; for they knew that if they came themselves 
Jesus would at once see through their plans and be on his 
guard against them. They did not know that Jesus 
as the Son of God knew all things, could look into every 
heart of man and read all their thoughts. 

So these men came to Jesus in the Temple and 
tried at first to speak flattering words to him to win his 
favor. 

"Teacher," they said, "we know that you are 
honest and speak the truth; that you are not afraid of 
anybody and do not try to please men, but say only 
what is right. There is a question that troubles us, 
for we do not know how to meet it. For that reason 
we bring it to you, for we know 
that } r ou will give us a right 
answer. Tell us now what 
you think about it. Is it right 
for our people to pay taxes 
to the Roman rulers over the 

?" 





Silver coin of Tiberius Csesar 



land? Shall we pay, or shall we refuse to pay 

This was indeed a hard question to answer, especially 
to answer at once, without time for thinking about it. 
For if Jesus should say, "Do not pay the tax," the 
Romans would arrest him as an enemy to their rule, 
and might even put him to death, as they had seized 
and slain many for this very act of refusing to pay the 
taxes. At that very time hundreds of men were hiding 
from the Romans in caves and forests, trying to escape 
from paying this tax. On the other hand, if Jesus should 
say, "Pay the tax," all the common people would turn 
against him; for all the Jews hated this tax, which was 
a sign of the Roman power over them; and every 
man among them only paid it because he was 
afraid of the Roman governor and the Roman 
soldiers. 
380 



Wfyt J|eab on tfje Com 



But Jesus saw through all their plots and plans, 
and he had his answer ready. 

"You men of false heart, pretending to be honest!" 
he said, "why do you try to catch me in a snare? Let 
me see some of the tax money!" 

They brought to him a piece of silver, a Roman 
coin. He looked at it closely and then asked: 

"Whose head is this that I find upon the coin? 
What are the words around the edge?" 

"Why, that is the head of the Roman emperor, 
Tiberius Caesar, and those words are his title." 

"Well, then," said Jesus, "give to Caesar what 
belongs to Caesar; and be sure to give to God what 
belongs to God." 

There was nothing in that answer which they could 
make to appear either unfriendly or friendly to the 
Roman rule; nor yet was there anything that could be 
used against Jesus with the people. Wondering at the 
answer of Jesus, these men left him. 




Jewish half-shekel, the coin in which 

the Temple tax was paid — "tribute 

money" (Matt. 17:27)— 

value, 32 cents 



381 



{Efje OToman tottf) g>eben ^usibanbs; 

CHAPTER 78 

WE HAVE heard much in the story, of the Pharisees, 
who were looked upon as leaders of the people 
in religion, because they regularly went to 
church, paid the church dues and obeyed all the rules, 
foolish as some of those rules seemed. These Pharisees, 
as you know, were bitter enemies of Jesus, and every- 
where stirred up the people against him. 

But there was another party among the Jews, the 
Sadducees, whom we have not mentioned up to this 
time. These people were equally opposed to the Phans<< s 
and to Jesus. They were easy-living men, not paying 
much attention to the church rules; and in fact not going 
often to the church, which you know was caiied "the 
synagogue." But although they cared little foi th< 
churches in the different towns, they cared greatly for 
the Temple in Jerusalem, for most of the priests in the 
Temple were Sadducees, as also were many of the rulers 
in the great council of the Jews. 

The Sadducees did not believe that there was any 
soul in man, nor any life after this life, nor any angels, 
nor any rising from the dead hereafter, nor any heaven 
or hell. They believed that when a man died and was 
buried, that was his end forever. 

Some of these Sadducees tried to puzzle Jesus with 
a question. They came to him in the Temple that 
Tuesday while he was speaking to the people. 

" Teacher," they said to him, "you remember that 
in the law of Moses it is ordered that if a man should 
die without any children, but leaving a wife, then the 
382 



man's brother shall take the widow for his wife, and raise 
a family for his brother. Well, there were living seven 
brothers. The oldest of these married a wife, and after 
a time died, leaving no children. Then the second 
married her, and he too died without a child. The 
third took her and died, the fourth also, and all the 
rest of the seven died, leaving no children. Finally 
the woman herself died. Now, you have been teaching 
that there will come a day when the dead shall rise to 
life. When that day comes, and these seven men rise, 
all of whom were married to this woman, whose wife 
out of them all will she be, for every one of them in turn 
was married to her?" 

"You make a mistake," answered Jesus, "because 
you do not understand the teachings of the Bible; nor 
do you know how great is the power of God, who can at a 
word call the dead up to life. In this world men and 
women marry because they live on earth only for a time, 
and must have families to live after them. But when 
the dead are raised up, they do not rise as husbands and 
wives, nor do they marry in that world to come, for they 
will have no need to raise up families to take their places. 
In that land all live forever, like the angels of God. 
And as to the resurrection, the rising from the dead, 
have you not read the words that God spoke to Moses 
at the burning bush? 

" 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, 
and the God of Jacob.' 

"Now God is not the God of dead men, but of living 
men. For in the sight of God all men are alive, even 
after they have died on earth." 

While Jesus was answering these questions — that 
of the rulers of the Temple about his right to drive out 
those that were buying and selling; that of the Pharisees 
about the paying of taxes; and that of the Sadducees 

383 



Cfje HJoman tutt!) is>eben J^usbanbsi 

about the resurrection, the rising from the dead — the 
people were standing around, listening. Although the 
rulers were enemies of Jesus, the common people were 
friendly, and heard him gladly. They saw how ready 
and how apt his answers were, and they were greatly 
pleased to find the enemies of Jesus put to confusion 
before him. 



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The tomb of David as shown to-day in Jerusalem 



384 



Wfyt (greatest of &ll tfje Commanbment* 

CHAPTER 79 

WHILE JESUS was talking in the Temple and 
answering all these questions, a teacher of the 
law was standing near and listening. He saw 
how well Jesus answered all the questions put to him, 
and coming up to him, said: 

"Teacher, what commandment stands first of all?" 

We might suppose that he was speaking of the Ten 
Commandments and asking which of these is the most 
important. But that was not his purpose. He was 
thinking, not of the commandments given by God, but 
of the rules made by the scribes. One teacher would 
say that the rules about keeping the Sabbath were the 
greatest, another that the rules about washing were first ; 
and so on, each scribe or teacher laying stress on one 
set of rules above another. Jesus looked upon all these 
little laws made by men as of no importance; and this 
was his answer to the scribe who had asked the question : 

"The first and greatest of all the commandments 
is this, 'Hear, O ye people of Israel; the Lord our God 
is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with 
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, 
and with all thy strength.' And the second command- 
ment is this, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' 
There is no other commandment greater than these two." 

To love God with all the heart is to do God's will, 
not because we must do it, but because we love to do it 
and find joy in doing it. And to love our neighbor 
means to feel an interest in our fellow-men and to do for 
them whatever we would wish to have them do for us. 
25 385 



Cfje Greatest of gill tfje Commanbments; 



"You are right, Teacher!" said the scribe in answer 
to Jesus. "It is true, as you say, that there is one God; 
and there is no other God besides him. And to love God 
with the whole heart, and with the whole mind, and with 
the whole strength; and to love one's fellow-man as one's 
self — this is far beyond all offerings upon the altar!" 

Jesus saw that this man's words were true and good 







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&T- 









Ruins at the place where Jesus foretold the destruction of Jerusalem 

and that he had the right thought of our duty to God 

and to our fellow-man. He said to him : 

"You arc not far from the kingdom of God." 

This was the last question put to Jesus. No one 

ventured to ask him any more, for they were afraid of 

his wonderful answers. The chief priests and the rulers 

were more and more angry at him, but the common 

people listened to him willingly. 

While Jesus was teaching he in his turn asked a 

question of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. 

386 



^Jje Creates!! of 311 tfje Commanbmente 

"Tell me," he said, "what you think of the Messiah- 
Christ, the King of Israel, promised to come. Whose 
son is he?" 

They answered at once, "David's son." 
"How is it then," asked Jesus again, "that David 
in one of the psalms calls him 'Lord'? 

"The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand, 
Until I put your enemies under your feet.' 

"If David calls this coming Christ 'my Lord,' how 
can he be David's son?" 

This they could not answer, and they dared not ask 
Jesus any more questions. But we know, from the words 
of the New Testament, that while Christ as a man was 
sprung from David's line, as the Son of God he was 
David's Lord. 

After this Jesus spoke strong words to the priests, 
the scribes, and the rulers, for their wickedness of life 
for their leading the people away from God's will, and 
for their unjust, cruel purpose to put him to death. He 
told them that for their sins and the sins of their people, 
the Temple should be thrown down, the city of Jerusalem 
should be destroj^ed, and the land should be made 
desolate. These were his last words, and when he had 
spoken them, he rose up to go out of the Temple. 



387 



(Efje (greatest #tft; anb tfje Strangers 
from gtfar 

CHAPTER 80 

THE ROOM in the Temple where Jesus spoke on 
that Tuesday, the last day of his teaching in 
public, was called "The Treasury," because beside 
its walls were chests or boxes in which people who came 
to worship placed their money for gifts to pay for the 
offerings of poor people. As Jesus rose up to leave the 
room, he noticed the people dropping their money into 
these boxes. Some rich men made a show of giving large 
sums of money, letting it make a noise as they dropped 
it slowly, piece after piece, into the box. 

There came in a poor woman, whose dress showed 
that she was a widow; and she dropped into the box 
two little copper coins, worth together only a quarter 
of a cent. Jesus saw her, and calling his disciples, he 
said: 

"I tell you in truth, that in the sight of God this 
poor widow has put into the box more money than any 
of the others. All the rest have been putting in money 
that they could spare and did not need. But she in her 
need gave all that she had, her whole living!" 

Then Jesus walked out of the Treasury through 
the door on the east, which was so richly decorated that 
it was called "The Beautiful Gate," his disciples with 
him. They stepped down into the Court of the Gentiles; 
and at the foot of the stairs met a number of men whose 
looks and dress showed that they were not Jews, but 
foreigners. These men were Greeks, from a land far 
away. They were waiting for Jesus at the foot of the 
388 



®f)e (greatest (gift 



stairs, for not being Jews they were forbidden to enter 
the inner courts of the Temple. 

These Greeks stepped up to one of the twelve 
disciples, Philip, who had come from Bethsaida in the 
north of Galilee, and could speak their language. 

"Sir," they 
said to Philip, I 
"we would like 
to meet Jesus." 

Philip was 
not sure wheth- 
er his Master 
would be willing 
to talk to these 
men; for Jews 
kept Gentiles or 
foreigners at a 
distance, would 
never eat with 
them, and would 
scarcely speak 
with them. 
Philip thought 
that Andrew, 
the brother of 
Peter, might 
know whether 

to hrino* thpsp The poor widow drops in two little coins 

men to Jesus or not, so he spoke to Andrew, and Andrew 
took the lead in coming to Jesus with the Greeks. 

"The time has now come," said Jesus, "for the Son 
of Man to be lifted up, and to die. For it is only by dying 
that I can bring forth fruit. When a kernel of wheat 
is dropped into the ground, unless its outside shell dies, 
it lives alone; but if it dies, then it becomes a seed and 

389 




€f)e Greatest (gift 



brings a harvest of many kernels of wheat. He who 
loves his life and keeps it, loses it; but he who takes no 
care of his life here shall have it forever. If any man is 
ready to serve me, let him follow me; and where I am 
going there shall my servant be with me. If any one is 
my servant, he shall have honor from my Father." 

At that moment it came to the mind of Jesus that 
in less than three days he would be hanging dead upon 
the cross. For an instant the thought gave him pain. 
"I am deeply troubled, and have sorrow in my heart," 
said Jesus, "and what can I say? Shall I say, 'Father, 
save me from the hour that is coming so soon?' No, I 
will not say that, because it was for that hour of death 
on the cross that I have lived even until now. I will say, 
'Father, give honor to thine own name!' " 

Then a voice from heaven was heard, saying, "I have 
honored my name already, and I will honor it once 
more." 

The people standing around said, "That was a peal 
of thunder just now." 

"No," said others, "it was an angel speaking to this 



man 



"It was not on my account that the voice came," 
said Jesus, "but on your account. Soon will come the 
hour when God will judge this world, and the prince of 
evil, who rules this world, shall be driven away." 

Then Jesus thought of his coming death on the 
cross; what it was to bring to the world; how that 
everywhere after his death men should believe on him as 
their Lord and Saviour; not only Jews, but Greeks, and 
people of every land; and he said: 

"And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will 
draw all men to me." 

Soon after this Jesus walked out of the Temple, 
never again to set his foot within it. 
390 



STegus Celling of ©arfe Bap* to Come 

CHAPTER 81 

JESUS WALKED across the Court of the Gentiles 
or Strangers, the large outer court of the Temple, 
toward the Mount of Olives. On that side of the 
court stood Solomon's Porch, a double row of pillars, 
having a roof above to shield it from the sun. Under 
this porch they stepped down a marble staircase to pass 
out of the Temple grounds through a gate called "The 
Golden Gate." As they drew near this gate the disciples 
called his attention to the great stones in the wall, the 
pillars and the splendid buildings around. 

"Are you looking at these stones and buildings?" 
said Jesus. "I tell you now, that the time is coming, 
and not far away, when all of these stones shall be torn 
apart, and of these fine buildings not one stone shall be 
left standing in its place; all shall be thrown down!" 

The disciples heard these words with alarm and 
sadness. They knew that their Lord spoke as a prophet; 
and whatever he said would be sure to come to pass. 
But they looked upon Jerusalem as the holy city, and 
upon the Temple as the house of God. To them, the fall 
of the city and the Temple seemed like the end of the 
whole world. They walked after Jesus in silence across 
the valley of the brook Kedron and up the steep sides 
of the Mount of Olives. On its top they sat down to 
rest, and looked over the valley at the city, its towers 
and roofs rising in their view. While they were sitting 
on the mountain, Peter and Andrew, with the brothers 
James and John, came to Jesus, and said to him: 

"Tell us, Master, what your words mean, and when 

391 



SFesuS Celling of Sarfe Baps to Come 



these terrible things will come to pass? Are you going 
away, and then coming back again? How may we know 
when to look for you?" 

Then, sitting on the mountain, with the twelve 
disciples around him, Jesus gave a long talk about the 
things that were to come. He began by warning them 
against following after men claiming to be Christ, the 
King of Israel. 

"Take care," he said, "that no one lead you astray. 

For many will come say- 
ing, 'I am Christ, the 
King of Israel,' and they 
will lead away many peo- 
ple. But do not follow 
any of these false Christs. 
"You will hear of 
wars that have come, and 
reports of wars that are 
coming; but do not be 
frightened. These must 
come, but they are not 
the end. Nation shall 
make war with nation, 
and kingdom against king- 
dom; and you shall hear 
of earthquakes in many places; and times shall come 
when there will be no bread for the hungrj^ to eat. 
But all these are only the beginnings of the trouble ; and 
the worst is yet to come. 

"But before these take place there are some other 
sufferings that you must meet because you are my 
disciples. Enemies will rise up against you. You shall 
be brought before councils and courts to be tried; you 
shall be seized and beaten in the churches of the Jews; 
you shall stand before governors and kings to give 
392 




The Golden Gate, on east of the Temple 
Area, Jerusalem (now closed) 



feSu* Celling of Bark Bap* to Come 



account for yourselves as my followers. But when 
they seize you and bring you to be tried, do not be anxious 
as to what you shall speak; for the right words shall be 
given you in that hour of trial. It will not be you that 
speak, but the Spirit of God that speaks through you. 

" In those times of trial fathers and mothers shall 
turn against their children, and brothers shall give up 
brothers who believe in me. Some of you shall be put 




The Mount of Olives from Gethsemane 

to death in those days. And all men shall hate you 
because you are my disciples. But if you are faithful 
to the end, even to death, you shall be saved to everlasting- 
life." 

Then Jesus told of the terrible times that were 
coming to Jerusalem and the land of the Jews. He said : 

"When you see great armies encamped on these 
hills all around Jerusalem, then know that the time has 
come for the city and the Temple to be destroyed. Let 
this be a sign for everyone in Judea to hide among the 

393 



Jesus {Telling of Bark Bapss to Come 



mountains. If a man at that time is on the roof of his 
house, let him not go down to take anything out of his 
house; nor a man in the field go home after his cloak; 
but hasten away just as he is, with the clothes that are 
upon his back, and find a safe hiding-place. 

"If anyone tells you in such times as those, 'Here is 
Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it, for false Christs 
will come and false prophets will appear; and they will 
show signs and wonders, so as to lead astray even some 
of God's own people. I tell 3'ou truly that man}' who are 
now living shall see all these things come to pass." 

Jesus had already told his disciples that he was soon 
going away to leave them, but in his own time he would 
come again. He now spoke about his "coming again. 1 ' 

"As to the coming of the Son of Man, no one knows 
about that day or hour; no man knows when it will be, 
nor the angels, nor even the Son himself, but only the 
Father. It will be then as it was in the days of Noah; 
they went on eating and drinking, marrying and being- 
married, until the day Noah went into the ark; and they 
took no notice until the flood came and swept them all 
away. 

"So will it be when the Son of Man comes. Then 
there will be two men working together in the field; one 
shall be taken and the other left. Two women will be 
grinding grain with the hand mill; one shall be taken 
and the other left. Keep on the watch then, for you 
never know what day the Lord will come. Be sure of 
this, if the owner of the house had known at what time 
in the night the thief would come, he would have been 
on the watch for him, and would never have allowed 
his house to be broken into. So be ready all the time, 
for when you least expect him, +Iie Son of Man will 



:;<)! 



GWje parable of tfje &en prtbesmatbs 

CHAPTER 82 

AT THE CLOSE of a long talk with the disciples, on 

ZA the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave three parables. 

The first parable was to show that his followers 

must watch and be ready for his sudden coming. It is 

"The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids." 

"The coming of the Lord in his kingdom/' said 
Jesus, "will be as when ten girls, the bridesmaids at a 
wedding, took their lamps and went out to meet the 
bridegroom with his friends, and go with them to the 
house of the bride. Five of these girls were foolish and 
thoughtless, and five of them 
were wise. The foolish young 
women brought their lamps, but 
never thought that they would 
need more oil to fill their lamps 
again. But each of the five wise 
girls carried a small flask of oil 
to refill her lamp when needed. 

"As the bridegroom, the young man who was to be 
married, was late in coming, the ten bridesmaids grew 
sleepy, and finally all fell asleep. They slept until 
midnight, when suddenly they were awakened by the 
shout, 'Here comes the bridegroom! Come out to 
meet him!' 

"Then all the girls got up and began trimming their 
lamps. The careless, foolish ones said to the wise and 
thoughtful ones: 

" 'Come, let us have some of your oil. Our lamps 
are going out.' 

395 




Zf)t parable of tfje &en Jiribesmatb* 



"But the wise bridesmaids answered them, 'No, 
each one of us has brought just enough oil for her own 
lamp. If we should divide our oil with you, then none 
of us would have enough to keep her lamp burning and 
we should all be in the dark together. You must go to 
the store and buy for yourselves!' 

"So, in the middle of the night, while the bride- 




The coming of the bridegroom 

groom was coming, those foolish women had to go to 
the town, and wake up the oil-sellers and buy more oil. 
While they were on their way buying oil, the bridegroom 
and his party came; and the bridesmaids who were 
ready went with them to the marriage-supper. When 
they were all inside the room, the door was shut to keep 
out strangers who had no right to enter. 

"After a time, the rest of the bridesmaids came 
390 



Cfje parable of tfje {Ken JBribesmatbg 

and found the door shut. They called out to the bride- 
groom : 

" 'Oh, sir, oh, sir! Please open the door for us!' 
"But he answered them, 'I tell you, I do not know 
who you are!' 

"So," said Jesus, "I say to you, keep on the watch, 
and be ready at all times, for you do not know either the 
day or the hour when your Lord will come." 




Watch-tower 



397 



W$t parable of tfje Calents 

CHAPTER 83 

THE SECOND of the three parables with which 
Jesus closed his long talk to his disciples on the 
Mount of Olives was "The Parable of the Talents." 
In some parts it was like "The Parable of the Pounds," 
given to the crowd at Jericho only a week before, but in 
other parts it was different. In that parable, there was 
a king, going to a distant city to have a kingdom given 
to him. In this parable, it was a rich man going on a 
long journey. In the parable of the Pounds, all the 
servants began with the same amount of money; in this 
parable, they received different amounts, one of them 
five times as much as another received. In the parable 
of the Pounds, one gained ten times, the other five times 
what had been given to him; and they obtained different 
rewards, one the ruler over ten cities, another over five. 
But in the parable of the Talents, each faithful servant 
doubled what he had received, and both had the same 
reward. But we will give the parable of the Talents, 
and you can see how it differs from the parable of the 
Pounds. Jesus said: 

' ' When the Son of Man comes, it will be as when a 
man returned from his journey into a far country. 
Before starting out upon his journey, this man called 
together his servants and gave his money into their 
charge. To one he gave five talents, to another two, 
and to another one. Each talent was worth about two 
thousand dollars, so that the first servant had ten thou- 
sand dollars, the second four thousand dollars, and the 
third two thousand dollars. To each man w T as given as 
398 



tEfje parable of tfje talents; 



much as his master thought that he was able to take 
care of. They were to use the money and gain with it 
until their master should come home again; and then 
bring it with their gains to him. After dividing his 
money, the man went away. 

"At once the servant who had the five talents or 
ten thousand dollars, went to trade with his money, and 
made with it ten thousand dollars more, or twenty 
thousand dollars in all. The second servant, who had 
two talents or four thousand dollars, also used his money 
carefully, and doubled it, making eight thousand dollars. 
But the third servant, to whom had been given one 
talent, or two thousand dollars, instead of making use 
of his master's money, went away and dug a hole in the 
ground, and put the talent into the hole and left it there. 

" After a long time the master of the servants came 
home again, and called for his servants, to see what each 
had gained. The one who had received the five talents 
came with bags of gold in his arms. He said: 

" 'My lord, you gave me ten thousand dollars. 
Here the}" are, and ten thousand dollars more, which I 
have gained with your money.' 

" 'Well done, you good servant!' said his master. 
'You have done well in small things; now I will give 
you great things; come and share your master's feast!' 

"Then came the second servant, to whom had been 
given two talents. 

" 'My lord,' said he, 'you trusted me with four 
thousand dollars. See, here it is with four thousand 
dollars more that I have gained for you!' 

" 'Well done, you good servant,' said his master. 
'You too have done well in small things; now I will 
give you great things; come and share the feast 
with mef 

"Then came the servant to whom had been given 

399 



Z\)t parable of tfje Calente 



one talent, two thousand dollars. In his hand was the 
same bag of gold that he had received, and no more. 

" 'Sir,' he said, 'I knew that you were a hard man, 
reaping where you never sowed, and taking grain that 
you did not harvest. So I was afraid, and hid your 

money in the 
ground. Look, 
here is what be- 
longs to you.' 

" 'You lazy, 
worthless ser- 
vant!' said his 
master. 'You 
knew, did you, 
that I reap where 
I did not sow, 
and that I take 
grain that I did 
not harvest? If 
you knew that I 
am such a man as 
that, you should 
have put my 
money into the 
savings bank; and 

" You lazy, worthless servant !" said his master fVipn flt lpfl«;t T 

might have had my own money with some gain added 
to it. 

" 'Therefore,' the master went on, 'take away the 
talent from this man, and give it to the one who has 
brought me the ten talents, the twenty thousand dollars; 
for that shows that he is fitted to take care of it. For 
to every one that has, more shall be given and still more. 
But from him that does not have, even that which he has 
shall be taken away. 
400 




tlfje parable of tfje talents! 



" 'And as for that good-for-nothing servant, turn 
him out of doors from the feast, into the darkness out- 
side; there those who cannot come into the feast shall 
wail and gnash their teeth.' " 

From this parable, as well as the parable of the 
Pounds, it is plain that by "every one who has," the 
Lord meant " every one who cares for and makes use of 
what he has"; and by "him who has not" he meant 
"the one who makes no use of what he has." Whoever 
uses rightly what he has, whether money, or knowledge, 
or powers of mind, or the chance to do good, will find 
more and more of it ; and whoever neglects what he has 
will surely lose it. 




Flagellum or scourge 



401 



®fje Hast (great ©ap 

CHAPTER 84 

AFTER THE two parables of "The Bridesmaids" 
and "The Talents," Jesus still with his disciples 
on the Mount of Olives, gave one more parable; 
a picture of " The Last Great Day." He said : 

"When the Son of Man shall come again to earth, 
in all his glory as King, and with him all the angels of 
God, then he will take his seat upon his royal throne; 
and before him shall be gathered all the people of the 
world to be judged. At that time he will send out his 
angels and they shall divide the great multitude into two 
parts, as a shepherd divides his flock, putting the sheep 
on his right hand and the goats on his left. Then the 
King shall say to those on his right hand : 

" 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Come, 
and take the kingdom made ready for you ever since the 
beginning of the world. For, when I was hungry, you 
gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; 
when I was a stranger, you opened your doors and took 
me into your homes; when I had no clothes, you gave me 
clothing; when I was sick, you cared for me; when I was 
in prison, you came to visit me.' 

"Then the good will answer, 'When was it that we 
found you hungry and gave you food? Or thirsty and 
gave you drink? When did we see you a stranger, and 
took you into our homes? Or without clothes, and gave 
you clothing? When did we see you sick, or in prison, 
and went to visit you?' 

"And the King will answer them, 'I tell you, as often 
as you did any of these things to one of these my brothers 
402 



Cfje TLa&t #reat ®aj> 



who believe in me, even the least of them, you did it 
to me.' 

"Then the King will turn to those on his left hand, 
and will say to them: 

" 'Go away from me, you whom God has cursed, to 
the everlasting fires which have been kindled for the 
Devil and his angels, the wicked spirits. There shall be 
your home forever! For I was hungry, but you never 
gave me food; I was thirsty, but you never gave me 
drink ; I was a stranger, but you never opened your doors 
to me; I was in need of clothes, but 3^011 never gave 
me any; I was sick and in prison, but you never cared 
for me.' 

"Then these will answer him: 

" ' Lord, when did we ever see you hungry, or thirsty, 
or a stranger, or without clothing, or sick, or in prison, 
and did not help you?' 

"And he shall answer them, 'In very truth I say to 
you, that as often as you did not help in their need these 
my brothers who believe in me, even the very least of 
them, you did not help me.' So these will go away to 
suffer punishment forever; but those who have done the 
right will go to life everlasting." 

It was now late on Tuesday afternoon, and Jesus 
with his disciples went down the Mount of Olives to 
Bethany. On the way he said to them: 

"You know that two days from now is the Feast of 
the Passover. On that day the Son of Man will be given 
up to his enemies; and they shall put him to death upon 
the cross." 

But, although he had spoken of this many times, even 
now they could not believe it. They went together to 
Bethany, to the home of Martha and Mary and Lazarus. 



403 




"You, my Lord, shall never wash my feet!" said Peter. "Unless 
answered Jesus, "you are not one of mine." 



wash you, 



404 



Massfitng tfje W&iplzg' Jfeet 

CHAPTER 85 

TUESDAY HAD been a busy day for Jesus, as we 
have already seen; but Wednesday must have 
been a quiet day, for none of the four gospels tells 
us of any events taking place on that day. Jesus knew 
that in two days more his sufferings were to begin, and 
he needed Wednesday, his last full day, for rest and for 
talking with his Father in heaven. On Wednesday, 
therefore, Jesus was alone with God, not talking much 
with his disciples. 

On Thursday evening was to be held by all the Jews 
the great Feast of the Passover. This kept in mind the 
day, more than a thousand years before, when the Israel- 
ites went out of Egypt and became a free people. At that 
time each Israelite family in Egypt killed a lamb, roasted 
it, and ate it, their last meal in Egypt; and with it they 
ate " unleavened bread," that is, bread made without 
yeast; somewhat like soda biscuit. In memory of that 
day, the families of Israel went up to Jerusalem every 
year in the spring and ate a dinner of roasted lamb with 
unleavened bread, which they called "The Feast of the 
Passover," because on that night in Egypt the angel of 
death " passed over" the homes of the Israelites, while he 
brought death to the families of Egypt. 

On Thursday morning, Peter and John came to 
Jesus in Bethany and said: 

"Master, where shall we make ready the passover 
feast for you?" 

"Go into the city," answered Jesus, "and you will 
meet a man carrying a jar of water; follow him, and into 

405 



©Hasfjtng tfje BtSctples' Jfeet 



whatever house he goes, say to the man living there, 
'The Teacher says, I must eat the passover at 3 r our house 
tonight with my disciples — where is my room?' And this 
man will show you a large room upstairs; there make 
ready all things for the supper." 

Peter and John went from Bethany into the city as 
they were told; the} r met the man with the water jar 
and followed him to the house. There the}' found the 
owner of the house, and spoke to him as Jesus had said. 
This man may have been a follower of Jesus, glad to have 
his Master take a meal at his house. He led Peter and 
John upstairs into a large room, with tables standing, 
and around them couches for the guests. 

Then the two disciples went into the market and 
bought a lamb. This they carried upon their shoulders 
to the Temple. There it was killed and its blood was 
poured out at the foot of the great altar. The lamb was 
then roasted in an oven; and after sunset it was brought 
to the supper room and placed upon the table. Beside 
it were the flat biscuits of unleavened bread, and also 
some vegetables of a slight^ bitter taste, to be eaten with 
the lamb. 

Late on Thursday afternoon Jesus and the rest of his 
disciples left Bethany. Jesus alone knew that this was his 
last farewell to that home and its loving people; but he 
said nothing, not wishing to alarm them. Among his 
followers on that afternoon was Judas Iscariot, knowing 
that he had sold his Master to his enemies, and that the 
thirty silver pieces were even then in his money bag. 
Jesus knew it, too, but he said not a word of it, cither to 
Judas or the disciples. 

They went around the Mount of Olives, crossed the 
valley, and came through one of the gates into the city; 
then found their way among the streets on Mount Zion 
to the house where in the upper room the supper was all 
406 



Maying tfje W&tipltZ' Jfcet 



ready for them. Here, as many times before, arose a 
little quarrel over the question as to which of the twelve 
disciples should sit at the guest table with Jesus, for that 
table was the place of honor. Jesus stopped the dispute 
by saying to them what he had said before: 

"He that would be greatest among you, let him take 
the lowest place; and he who would be chief, let him 
become your servant. But there is no need for you to be 
anxious about places. You have stood by me through 
all my trials, and I will give you all high places in my 
kingdom, for 3 r ou shall sit on twelve thrones, each of you 
over one of the tribes of Israel." 

But Jesus in teaching his disciples lowliness of mind 
and unselfishness of spirit, did not stop with words. He 
taught them by an act which made them wonder. Just 
before the supper, he rose from the couch where he was 
lying, took off his robe and outer garments, then tied a 
towel around his waist, poured water into a basin, and 
began to wash the feet of the disciples as they were reclin- 
ing around the tables, their heads toward the tables, their 
feet away from them. Jesus came first to Simon Peter, 
and stood at his feet, holding the basin of water. Peter 
looked up at him, and saw that the Saviour was preparing 
to wash his feet. 

"What, Master!" said Peter. "Are you going to 
wash my feet?" 

"You do not understand now what this means," 
said Jesus, "but you will learn after a time." 

"You, my Lord, shall never wash my feet!" said 
Peter. 

"Unless I wash you," answered Jesus, "you are not 
one of mine." 

"Then, Master," said Peter, "if that be so, wash not 
only my feet, but my hands and my head!" 

"He who has already bathed," said Jesus, "is clean, 

407 



a&asfjing tfje Sistiplesf Jfeet 



and needs only to wash his feet. And you are clean — but 
not every one of you." 

In those words "not every one of you," he was think- 
ing of Judas, the traitor, who was there with the others. 
So Jesus washed Peter's feet and wiped them dry 
with the towel around his waist; and he went around 
^^^^^m^^^^^^^^m the couches, washing the feet 

I of every disciple, even the 

\ feet of wicked Judas. 

Wkl When he had finished, he 

■ took off the towel, and put on 

his outer clothes, and took 

again his place at the table. 

" Do you understand the 

meaning of what I have 

done to you?" said Jesus. 

"You call me your Teacher 

and your Lord, and you are 

right, for I am both Teacher 

and Lord. Well, if I, who 

am your Teacher and your 

Lord, have washed j-our 

feet, you ought to wash 

each other's feet. I have 

set you an example, that 

After taking the piece of bread, Judas you should do what I have 
at once went out into the night done tQ yQU j ^ yQU 

truly, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a 
messenger greater than the one who sends him. If you 
know all this, you are happy if you do them." 

Then Jesus went on, saying, "When I say 'you' I do 
not mean all of you; for there is one of you eating with 
me now who will give me up to my enemies. Truly, 
truly, I tell you one of you shall betray me!" 

As Jesus said this his face showed that he was in 
408 





Then Jesus look up the cup and blessed it, and gave it also lit his disciples. 



®Easif)ing ttje ®tssctplesi , Jfeet 



deep trouble. The disciples looked at each other, not 
knowing of whom Jesus was speaking. They too were 
filled with sorrow, and began to say to him, all around the 
table, "Is it I, Lord?" 

"One of you that puts his hand into the same dish 
with me," answered Jesus, "is the traitor. The Son of 
Man goes from earth, as has been written of him in the 
Scripture, but woe, woe to that man who betrays his 
Lord! It would have been well for that man if he had 
never been born!" 

Next to Jesus at the table was reclining one of the 
disciples, John, whom Jesus loved greatly. Simon Peter 
made signs to John, which meant, "Find out who it is 
that he is speaking of." 

So John leaned back on Jesus' shoulder and 
whispered : 

"Who is it, Master?" 

"It is the one," answered Jesus, "to whom I shall 
hand this piece of bread, after dipping it in the dish." 

Jesus dipped the bread into the dish holding the 
roasted lamb, and handed it to Judas Iscariot. At that 
moment the spirit of evil went fully into the heart of 
Judas. Jesus said to him: 

"What you arc going to do, do at once." 

But no one at the table understood what these words 
meant. As Judas kept the purse for the company, they 
thought that Jesus was telling him to buy some things for 
the feast, or perhaps to give some money to the poor. 
After taking the piece of bread, Judas at once went out 
into the night. 



409 



®f)e Horb'£ Supper 

CHAPTER 86 

WHILE THEY were eating the passover meal, 
Jesus took a loaf of bread, and holding it in his 
hand, with his eyes lifted to heaven, spoke a 
blessing upon it. Then he broke it and gave a piece of it 
to each of the disciples. As he gave it to them, he said: 

" Take this, and eat it ; this means my body which is 
given for you." 

Then he took a cup of the wine, and blessed it, and 
gave this also to his disciples, saying: 

" Drink from this, all of you; this means my blood, 
the blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for 
many, to take away their sins. I tell you, from this time 
I will never again drink the juice of the grape, until that 
day when I drink it new with you, in the kingdom of my 
Father." 

In the old times, an agreement or promise was called 
u a covenant," and when it was made a lamb or a goat 
was killed for an offering, and laid upon the altar to be 
burned. The blood of the offering was poured out on the 
altar; and this was called "the blood of the covenant." 
Jesus meant to tell his disciples that soon his blood would 
be poured forth as the sign of God's promise to take away 
sin from those who believed in him. 

You have seen at some services in the church a table 
covered with a white cloth. When the cloth has been 
taken away, you have seen plates of bread and cups of 
wine. The minister gives the bread to the people, and 
repeats the words of Jesus, "Take, eat; this is my body 
which is given for you." And afterward as the wine is 
410 



Hfyt Horb'3 Supper 



taken, he says, "Drink ye all of this; for this is my blood 
shed for j^ou." This service is called "The Lord's 
Supper/' and it is held to keep in our minds the thought of 
the last meal that Jesus ate with his disciples. 

"My dear children," said Jesus after the supper, 
"I am to be with you only a little longer; then you will 
look for me, and as I told the Jews I tell you now, where 
I am going you cannot come. I give you a new command- 
ment, to love one another. As I have loved you, you are 
to love each other. By this every one will know that you 
are my disciples, by your loving each other." 

"Lord," said Simon Peter, "where are you going?" 

"I am going," answered Jesus, "where you cannot 
follow me now; but you shall follow me after a time." 

"Why cannot I follow you now, Master?" asked 
Peter. "I am ready to lay down my life and die for 
you!" 

"Will you lay down your life for me?" said Jesus. 
"I tell 3 r ou truly, Peter, before the cock crows twice 
tomorrow morning you will three times declare that you 
have never known me." 

But Peter again said most earnestly, "If I must die 
with you, I will never deny you." 

And all the disciples who were present said with 
Peter that they would never forsake their Lord, even unto 
death. 



411 



®i\t Vint anb tfje prancfjes 

CHAPTER 87 

JESUS SAW that his disciples were greatly disturbed 
at his words, as he spoke of going away to some place 
where they could not go with him, and leaving them 
alone among people who were his enemies; especially 
as he told Peter that he would soon disown his Master, 
and that all the rest of the disciples should leave him to 
suffer alone. Jesus tried to comfort them in their fears 
and their sorrows. 

"Do not be troubled in your hearts," he said to 
them; "trust in God, and trust in me, and in my words. 
In my Father's dwelling-place there are many homes. I 
am going to prepare a place for you; and when I have 
prepared it, I will come back and take you to be with me 
there, so that you may be where I am. And you know 
the way to the place where I am going." 

" Master," said Thomas, "we do not know where you 
are going; and how then are we to know the way?" 

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life," answered 
Jesus. "No one ever comes to the Father in any way 
except through me. If you knew me, you would know 
my Father also. You know him now, and have seen him; 
for you have seen me." 

"Master," said Philip, "let us see the Father; that 
Is all that we want." 

"Have I been with you all this time, Philip," 
answered Jesus, "and yet you do not know me? Whoever 
has seen me has seen the Father. What do you mean by 
saying, 'Let us see the Father'? Do you not believe that 
t he Father and I are one, that I am in the Father and the 
412 



tEfje Vine anb tfje prancfje* 



Father in me? The words that I speak are my Father's 
words; and the works that I do are my Father's works. 
I tell you truly, that whoever believes in me shall do the 
very works that I do ; and he shall do even greater works 
than these. I am going to the Father, and whatever you 
ask the Father in my name that I will do, that the Father 
may be honored in the Son. If you ask anything in my 
name, I will do it. 

"If you love me," Jesus went on, "you will do what- 
ever I have told you to do ; and I will ask the Father to 
give you another Helper to be with you always. That 
Helper is the Spirit of Truth. The people of this world 
cannot have the Spirit, because they do not see him nor 
know him. But you know him, because he is always with 
you, and is within you. I will not leave you alone in 
your sorrow; I am coming to you. A little while longer, 
and the world will see me no more; but you will see me, 
for I am living, and you will be living, too. He who has 
my commands and keeps them in his heart is the one who 
loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my 
Father; and I will love him and I will make myself 
known to him." 

Then said one of the disciples named Judas — not 
Judas Iscariot the traitor (he had gone out), but another 
Judas, the brother of James — "How is it, Lord, that you 
are to make yourself known to us and not to the world?" 

" If any one loves me," answered Jesus, "he will obey 
my word; and my Father will love him; and we will come 
to him and make our home with him. He who does not 
love me will not obey my words; and the word to which 
you are listening is not my own word, but the word of the 
Father who sent me. I have told you all this while I am 
still with you, but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the 
Father will scud to you to take my place, he will teach 
you all that you need to know and he will bring to your 

413 



GTfje Tine anb tfte ^Brancfjesi 



mind all that I have said to you. Peace be with you! 
My own peace I give you. I do not give my peace to you 
as the world gives its 'peace.' Do not let your hearts be 
troubled; do not be afraid. 

"You heard me say that I was going away and soon 

afterward coming 
back to you. If you 
loved me fully, you 
would be glad that I 
am going to the 
Father, for the 
Father is greater 
than I am. I have 
told you all this — 
that I am going 
away — before it hap- 
pens, so that when it 
does happen, as it 
will very soon, you 
may still believe in 
me, and believe that 
I am coming again." 
Then Jesus gave 
to his disciples an- 
other parable, "The 
Vine and the Branch- 
es." He said: 

"I am the true 
vine, and my Father is the vine-grower, the Master 
of the vineyard. You, my disciples, and all who 
believe in me, are the branches of the vine. If the 
vine-grower finds on his vine any branches that bear 
no fruit, he cuts them off, for they are of no use. If he 
finds branches that bear fruit, he trims them and cleans 
them, so that they may bear better fruit. You are already 
414 




am the vine, and you are the branches 



®fje 'Vint anb tfje 3Brancf)e£ 



clean through the word that I have spoken to you. Keep 
united to me, the vine, and I will keep united to you. 
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself when separate 
from the vine, no more can you bear fruit unless you stay 
united to me. 

" Remember, I am the vine, and you are the branches. 
He who keeps himself in union with me, and keeps me in 
union with himself bears rich fruit. But apart from me 
you can do nothing. If any one does not stay united to 
me, he is thrown away, just as a branch would be, and he 
withers up; then the worthless, withered branches are 
gathered and thrown into the fire and are burned. 

"If you stay united to me, and my teaching stays in 
your hearts, you may ask whatever you wish, and it shall 
be yours. As you bear rich fruit and prove yourselves 
my disciples, my Father is honored. As my Father has 
loved me, so I have loved you: stay in my love. If you 
keep my commands in your hearts, you wall stay in my 
love, just as I have kept my Father's commands in my. 
heart and dw r ell in his love." 



415 



Wbt 3U*t OTorbs of 3 esus to %i£ 
©igciple* 

CHAPTER 88 

JESUS WENT on giving his last talk with his disciples, 
in the room after the supper. Among other things, 
he said: 

" This is my last command to you. Love one another 
as I have loved }'ou. Xo one can give greater proof of 
love than by laying down his life for his friends. You 
are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not 
any more call you 'servants' ; for a servant does not know 
what his master is doing; but I have called you 'friends,' 
for all things that I have learned from my Father I have 
told you. It was not you who chose me, but I have chosen 
you, and appointed you to go and bear fruit that shall last, 
so that the Father may give you whatever you ask in my 
name. 

"This is what I command you, to love one another. 
If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its 
own; but because you do not belong to the world, since 
I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. 
Remember what I said to you, 'A servant is not greater 
than his master.' If they have tried to do me harm, they 
will try to do you harm too. If they hold to my word, they 
will hold to yours also. It is written in the Holy Book, 
They hated me without any cause,' and that word has 
come true in me; for they have indeed hated me when 
there was no cause for it. But when that Helper comes, 
he whom I will send to you — the Spirit of Truth who comes 
from the Father — he will speak for me; yes, and you shall 
416 



®f)e Hazt IBSorbS of JeSuS 



speak for me, for you have been with me from the very 
first. 

"I have said these things to you now, so that in the 
times to come, knowing these things you will not be 
discouraged nor fail. They will put you out of their 
churches; yes, 
there is coming a 
time when if 
anyone kills }^ou 
he will think that 
he is pleasing God. 
They will do these 
things because 
they have not 
really known my 
Father, nor known 
me. But I am 
telling you of 
these things now, 
that when the time 
comes, and you 
find the rulers 
and the people 
your enemies, you 
will remember I 
told you, and will 
be ready for these 

things. In a little while your sorrow shall be turned into 

' i I am telling •' oy ' an( * your ** oy sha " never be taken awa y 
you the truth; it is 

best for you that I go away; for if I do not leave you, 
that Helper, the Spirit of God, will not come to you; but 
if I go away, I will send him to you. When he the Spirit 
of Truth comes, he will lead you into all truth; and he 
will make known to you what is to come. In a little 
27 417 




£f)e last ailorbs of lesus 



while you will not see me any longer; then after another 
little while you will see me again." 

These words seemed to the disciples hard to under- 
stand. They said to each other: 

"What does he mean by telling us, Tn a little while 
you will not see me; then after another little while you 
will see me' ; and T am going to the Father'? What does 
he mean by 'a little while'?" 

Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him; and he 
said to them, " Are you trying to find out what I meant in 
saj'ing 'a little while and ye shall not see me, and then a 
little while and ye shall see me'? I tell you truly, that 
in a very little while you will be weeping and sorrowing, 
while the world around you will be glad. Then in a little 
while again, your sorrow shall be turned into joy, for you 
shall see me again, and yo ur joy shall never be taken away 
from you." 

Jesus meant them to understand that in a few hours 
he would be taken from them and placed upon the cross 
to die; that he would be buried, and all these things 
should give them pain and sorrow. But in a few days he 
would rise again from the grave, and then they would be 
glad and happy, with a happiness that should never pass 
away, even though he should again, after that, leave 
them and go to the Father. 

After saying these things, Jesus lifted up his hands to 
God and prayed. In his prayer he gave thanks to God 
that he had been able to finish the work that had been 
given him to do. He prayed also for his disciples, that 
they might all be one in heart, and love each other, and 
that they might be kept faithful to the end. He prayed, 
too, not only for those his disciples, but for all who 
through their words should come to believe in him as the 
Saviour of the world; that they all might be of one heart, 
loving each other; one with Jesus, and one with his Father. 
418 



Cfje %a$t OTiorbS of JeSuS 



When Jesus had finished his prayer, they all sang a 
hymn together, and went out of the supper room into the 
silent streets of the city. They walked toward the Mount 
of Olives, as if expecting to return to Bethany, the place 
from which they had come in the afternoon. 

With the disciples, as they went out of the house, was 
a young man whose name was John Mark. He may have 
been the son of the man at whose house Jesus and his 
disciples had eaten the supper. If that be so, then his 
mother's name was Mary, just like the name of Jesus' 
mother, though she was not the same woman. Long 
afterward, this John Mark wrote one of the four gospels, 
telling of the life of Jesus, "The Gospel of Mark." 




Olive tree and oil press 



419 




Jeans, leaving his (hree disciples to walch at the entrance to the Garden of 
Cethsemane, went farther inside to pray. 



420 



3n tfje #arben of #etf)£emane 

CHAPTER 89 

DURING THE week of the Passover, while the 
city of Jerusalem held three or four times as 
many people as usual, the gates in its walls were 
kept open day and night, although during most of the 
year they were closed at sunset. It was near midnight 
on Thursday when Jesus and his disciples, coming from 
the supper room, passed through a gate in the eastern 
wall just north of the Temple. They went down into 
the valley of the brook Kedron, and crossed the brook 
upon a bridge. On the further side of the valley, they 
came to an orchard of olive trees, called the Garden 
of Gethsemane. Jesus had often visited this garden, 
for it was a quiet place; and he loved to pray under 
the shadow of its olive trees. The orchard had a 
wall around it; and at its gate Jesus said to his 
disciples : 

"Sit here, while I go and pray inside the garden." 

He took with him three of his disciples, Simon 
Peter, James, and John his brother, and with these 
three went into the garden. The disciples began to 
notice that their Master was now showing the signs of 
deep sorrow, as if full of grief. He said to the three 
disciples : 

"My heart is sad; sad even to death; stay here 
and watch." 

Then he went forward a little way, and fell with 
his face upon the earth, and prayed to the Father: 

"Oh, my Father! My Father!" he cried. "Thou 
canst do anything! Take this cup away from me, T 

421 



3n tfje #arben of #etf)£emane 



pray! Yet, I do not ask to have my own will, but 
only what is thy will." 

"The cup" of which Jesus spoke was the terrible 
suffering that was very soon to come upon him. In 
those last moments, as he saw his trial and death draw- 
ing near like a black cloud, his spirit shrank. So earnest 

was his prayer, 
that the sweat 
stood upon his 
face in drops of 
blood. Just then 
came an angel 
from heaven, 
; standing by his 
side to cheer and 
help him. 

He rose up, 

1| and walked to the 
place where he 
1 had left the three 
disciples. They 
had fallen asleep, 
being overcome 
with the trouble 
which they felt in 

Ancient olive tree, in the garden of Gethsemane l-nnwinff that 

soon they were to lose their Master. Jesus spoke to Peter, 
"Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch 
with me for a single hour? Watch and pray, all of you, 
that you may be kept from being tempted. I know 
that your spirit is willing, but your bodies are weak." 
Again he went away, and prayed in the same words: 
"My Father! My Father! Thou canst do any- 
thing! Take this cup away from me! Yet, I would not 
have my own will, but thy will." 
422 




3n tfje #arben of <©etf)£emane 



Coming back, he found them again asleep, for their 
eyes were heavy and they could not keep them open. 
When awaked, they did not know what to say to him, 
for they were ashamed of being found asleep a second 
time. Jesus left them, and prayed for the third time. 
In this prayer he said: 

"Oh, my Father, if this cup cannot be taken away; 
if I must drink it, then thy will be done!" 

He went once more to the three disciples, and found 
them asleep, just as before. He now said to them: 

"You may as well sleep on now, and take your 
rest; for it is too late for you to help me. My time 
has come! The Son of Man has been given into the 
hands of wicked men. Come, get up, here is the traitor 
close at hand!" 

And at that very instant, while he was speaking 
these words, the traitor, Judas Iscariot, burst into the 
garden, with a crowd of men, armed with swords and 
clubs. These men had been sent by the chief priests 
and the rulers to seize Jesus. Spies had been watching 
near the house while Jesus was talking after the supper, 
and others watching at the gate when Jesus passed 
out of it. Word had been sent to the chief priests that 
Jesus was in the garden, and while he was praying to 
his Father, these men, led by Judas Iscariot, were 
hurrying to that place to make Jesus their prisoner. 

The men who had come to seize Jesus were not 
sure that in the night time, even though the full moon 
was shining, they would know him among his disciples. 
They said to Judas: 

"How can we tell in the dark, under the trees, who 
is the one for us to take hold of as prisoner?" 

"You watch me," said Judas, "and when I go up 
and kiss a man, seize him, for that one whom I shall 
kiss will be the man you are looking for." 

423 











ft! lai 

.. . ? 




n 



Judas Iscariol, burst into the garden with a crowd of men, armed 
with swords and clubs. 



424 



3n tfje (^arben of (^etfj^emane 



So Judas went into the garden, where by this time 
all the other disciples were gathered around Jesus. He 
came rushing up, saying "Master! Master!" and kissed 
him, just though he were glad to see him. 

"Judas," said Jesus, "do you betray the Son of 
Man with a kiss?" 

Then he went forward to the band of men who were 
standing with their lanterns and torches, their swords 
and spears. 

"For whom are you looking?" he said to these men. 

"For Jesus of Nazareth," they answered him. 

"I am he," said Jesus. At the instant Avhen he 
said this, they went backward, as if frightened, and 
fell upon their faces on the ground. Again, after a 
moment, he asked them: 

"For whom are you looking?" 

And again they answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." 

"I have already told you," said Jesus, "that I 
am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men 
go away." 

For even in that hour Jesus was thinking not of 
his own safety, but of his disciples. The delay of a 
few moments gave to the disciples some courage. They 
began asking: 

"Master, shall we strike with the sword?" 

Simon Peter, not waiting for an answer from 
Jesus, drew a sword which he had brought with him, 
and with it struck one of the high priest's servants; 
a man named Malchus, and cut off his right ear; for 
by this time the band had risen to their feet and were 
drawing near. Jesus said: 

"Let me at least do this;" and he touched his 
ear; and at once his ear was made well again. 

"Put up your sword," said Jesus to Peter. "Those 
who take the sword shall die by the sword. Do you 

425 



3n tfje (^arben of dletijsemane 



not know, that with a word I could call upon my 
Father, and even now he would send me twelve armies 
of angels to keep me safely? The cup which my Father 
has given me, must I not drink it?" 

Then he turned to the band of men who had come 
to take him. 

"Do you come out to arrest me as if I were a rob- 
ber, with swords and clubs? Day after day I was with 
you in the Temple, and you did not lay your hands 
upon me. But now your time has come, and the dark 
Power has its way." 

Then the disciples, finding that they could do 
nothing to protect Jesus, ran away and left him alone. 
The men of the band put chains upon Jesus, and led 
him away. 

But John followed the company, and Peter also, 
anxious to see what would be done with their Lord. 
The young man John Mark was also following him, 
when one of the band tried to seize hold of him by his 
clothes. He left the linen cloth wrapped around him 
in the hands of the man, and slipped away with only 
his undergarments upon his body. 



426 



3Fe£u£ pefore &mta£ 

CHAPTER 90 

THE MEN who took Jesus as their prisoner were 
the policemen of the Temple, led by their chief. 
With them were some of the priests and officers, 
and a crowd of the lowest people, who had been gathered 
from the streets by the rulers. All these formed together 
a noisy and disorderly mob, dragging Jesus out of the 
Garden of Gethsemane and into the city on Mount 
Zion. Two of the disciples, Peter and John, followed, 
keeping close to the crowd, but outside of it, their 
hearts filled with alarm for their Master. 

The Temple policemen brought Jesus, all tied with 
ropes and chains, to the house on Mount Zion, inside 
the wall of the city, where lived one of the chief priests 
named Annas. Annas had once been the high priest, 
that is, the great priest at the head of all the priests; 
but the Roman rulers of the land had taken his office 
away from him, and made Caiaphas, whose wife was 
the daughter of Annas, high priest in his place. Many 
of the people believed that the Romans had no right 
to take his office away from Annas, and still looked upon 
him as the true and rightful high priest. Annas was a 
man of great power, feared by many; and therefore the 
men who had seized Jesus brought him first to the house 
of Annas. In the house were met a number of the 
chief rulers and members of the great council of the Jews. 
Jesus was brought in before them all. Annas asked 
Jesus to tell him what he had taught, and who were his 
disciples. Jesus answered him: 

"My teachings have never been in secret; I have 

427 



3Fe$uS Pefore 9nnasi 



always been open and public in my words. I spoke 
everywhere in the churches and in the Temple, where 
the people go to worship. Why do you ask me what 
I have said? Ask the people who heard me; they know 
what I said." 

As Jesus spoke these words, one of the police officers 




Priests and officers taking Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane 

standing by struck Jesus a hard blow with his hand, 
saying: 

"Is that the way that you answer the high priest?" 
Jesus answered him calmly, "If I have said any- 
thing that is not true, prove it; but if I have spoken 
the truth, why do you strike me?" 

When Jesus was taken into the house of Annas, 
John followed the crowd inside, for John knew the 
high priest, and he was not afraid to go into his house. 
428 



Jesiii* before Snnaa 



But Peter stood outside in the street. Then John spoke 
to the woman who had charge of the door, and asked 
her to let in the man standing outside, and she opened 
the door for Peter. The rooms of the house stood 
around an open court, and Peter stood in the court 
among the servants and policemen. It was cold, and 
they had made a charcoal fire in a brazier — that is an 
iron pan standing upon either three or four legs. Around 
this fire the people gathered; and Peter stood in the 
court among them, holding his hands over the fire to 
warm them. The woman who kept the door looked 
sharply at Peter, and said: 

"Are you not one of this man's disciples?" 

Peter was alone among the enemies of Jesus, for 
John had gone into the room where Jesus was standing 
before Annas and the other rulers. Peter felt a sudden 
fear come over him, and to this woman's question, he 
answered : 

"No, I am not!" 

Poor Peter! Already he had begun to deny his 
Lord! 

Annas knew that he had no right to act as judge 
upon Jesus. All that he could do was to examine 
Jesus, listen to what he might say, and try to find in 
his words some ground for his enemies to bring charges 
against him. So after a little, Annas sent Jesus, all 
bound as he was, to Caiaphas, who was the high priest 
by law. 



429 




Jesus brought for trial before Caiaphas, who in anger tore his clothes and flung 

up his arms, denouncing Jesus because he declared himself 

to be the son of Gcd. 



430 



5esu* pefore Caiapfja* 

CHAPTER 91 

THE HIGH PRIEST Caiaphas, before whom Jesus 
was now brought for a regular trial, had been 
in office many years. He was a shrewd, sharp 
man, caring very little about right or wrong, but always 
ready to do whatever would please the Jewish leaders, 
without giving offence to the Roman rulers. 

You remember that after Jesus raised Lazarus to 
life, and many people were believing in Jesus, it was 
this Caiaphas who said, "No matter whether Jesus is 
innocent or guilty, whether he is good or bad, the easiest 
way for us to avoid trouble is to kill him; and that we 
must do." That showed the spirit of Caiaphas the high 
priest. 

The houses of Annas and Caiaphas were not far 
apart, and may have been in the same group of buildings 
on Mount Zion. The officers and policemen took Jesus 
into the large hall in the high priest's house where all 
the members of the Jewish council that could be brought 
together so suddenly were gathered. It was a little 
after midnight when Jesus was made prisoner in the 
garden, and it must have been between four and five 
o'clock on Friday morning when Jesus stood before 
Caiaphas and the council. 

Peter had come with the crowd, and was in the court 
of the high priest's house. John was not there, but 
had gone to the house in Jerusalem, where Mary the 
mother of Jesus was staying, to bring to her the terrible 
news that her Son was in the hands of his enemies, 
and to try to give her comfort. So again Peter 

431 



3Fesus iBefore Caiapfjas 



was left alone in the midst of a throng opposed to 
Jesus. 

By the law of the Jews, no one could be put to death 
unless two persons could be found to tell of a wicked 
act that they had seen him do, or wicked words that 
they had heard him speak; and also, the accounts of 
these two witnesses must agree. The rulers looked for 
witnesses to come and speak against Jesus of what 
the}' had seen and heard. The}' did not care whether 
these witnesses speaking against Jesus spoke the truth 
or spoke lies; all they wanted was to have them agree 
in their words. There were man}' who spoke falsely 
against Jesus, but what they said did not agree. After 
a time two men stood up, and said: 

"We ourselves heard this man say in the Temple, 
'I will destroy this Temple made by the hands of men, and 
in three days I will build another made without hands.' " 

But even those witnesses did not agree in their 
account of what Jesus had said. You remember, that 
three years before, in the Temple, Jesus had said, 
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it 
up." But he was speaking not of the Temple of the 
Jews, but of himself as the temple of the Lord, and of 
his own death and rising from the tomb. You see how 
these men changed the words of Jesus in the telling 
of them. 

Now, the Jews had agreed that for any man to 
speak of destroying the house of God was very wicked; 
and that whoever should speak of such a thing must 
be put to death. So in the words of these two men, 
even though they did not agree, and were false, Caiaphas 
and the council saw a chance to carry out their purpose 
of putting Jesus to death. 

The high priest Caiaphas stood up, and said to 
Jesus in a very loud and fierce manner: 
432 



3Tesiu£ ^Before Catapfjas 



"What have you to say of the things spoken by 
these witnesses? Have you no answer to give?" 

But Jesus stood silent and would not speak a word. 
He knew that speaking would not help him, for their 
minds were made up to kill him, whatever he might 



^nmz 






^tl 








1 


m4 




m 


iii 






■ 1 



Judas filled with remorse returns the thirty pieces cf silver 

say. After a moment of waiting Caiaphas spoke 
again. 

"Are you the Christ," he asked, "the Son of that 
Blessed One?" 

Then Jesus spoke out, once for all: 

"I am," he answered, "and what is more, you will 
all see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of 
Almighty God, and coming in the clouds of heaven!" 

At this the high priest became furious. In his 
anger he tore his clothes, and flung up his arms and 
cried : 
28 433 



Jesus iBefore CaiapfjaS 



'What awful, awful words!" shouted the high 
priest. "Why this man makes himself equal to 
Almighty God! We need no more witnesses; he has 
spoken his own doom. What shall be done to a man 
who calls himself God?" 

Then with one voice all the council said, "He 
deserves to die/' and the sentence of death upon Jesus 
was given. 

Then they began to spit in his face and to strike 

him. They threw a 
covering over his face, 
and after striking him, 
would say, "Are you a 
prophet? then tell who it 
was that struck you!" 

All this time Peter was 
in the court of the build- 
ing, and through the open 
door he could see Jesus 
standing in the inner 
room. One of the young- 
women servants looked 
closely at Peter, and finally 
said : 

"You were one of those 

with Jesus, the Nazarene ! ' ' 

"I don't know what you are talking about," said 

Peter in answer; and he went away from the group 

into the hall outside. Just then the cock crew, and 

Peter heard it. 

Again the woman who had noticed him began to 
tell those standing near, "That fellow is one of them!" 
But he denied it again. After a little another man said 
to Peter: 

"You surely are one of this fellow's men! Why, 
434 




liRfi 



The potter's field 




As Peter was speaking, which was his third denial of his Master, the cock crew 

for the second time. At that moment Jesus turned and looked on Peter, 

who instantly repented and went out and wept bitter tears. 



435 



SFesuS pefore CaiapfjaS 



your very accent shows that you come from Galilee! 
You speak your words like a Galilean!" 

Then Peter began to curse and to swear; and he 
said, "I don't know the man you are talking about, 
and have never seen him!" 

As Peter was speaking, the cock crew for the second 
time. And at that moment the Lord Jesus in the inner 
room turned and looked on Peter, standing outside the 
open door. Then all at once flashed upon Peter's mind 
what his Lord had said on the evening before, " Before 
the cock crows twice tomorrow morning you will three 
times deny that you have ever known me." And Peter 
went away, and as he thought upon it all, he was full 
of sorrow and wept bitter tears. 

But Simon Peter was not the only man in trouble 
that morning. There was one whose trouble was far 
deeper. That man was Judas Iscariot, who had sold 
his Lord for money. When he found that the chief 
priests and the council had given sentence of death upon 
Jesus, Judas saw how wicked he had been, and that 
through his guilty act, Jesus was to be slain. He 
brought back to the Temple the thirty pieces of silver 
that had been given him, and threw them down upon 
the floor, saying: 

"I have done wrong in betraying an innocent man! 
Take back your money!" 

"What difference is that to us?" answered the 
priests. "That is your affair, not ours." 

Judas went away, and in his sorrow became wild 
and hung himself. The next day he was found hanging 
dead. The chief priests did not know what to do with 
the money that he had brought back. They said : 

"It would never do to put that money among the 
gifts of the people to the Temple, for it is the price of 
blood." 
436 



Jesiua pefore Caiapljag 



They finally decided to take the money; and with 
it bought a piece of ground as a burial-place for strangers 
in the city. They bought it of a man who made pots 
and jars of earthenware; and it was named "The Pot- 
ter's Field." But by all the people it was called ever 
after "The Field of Blood." 




The Field of Blood." Purchased with money Judas received. 



437 




Pilate came down and sat upon his throne as a judge, and said: "What is the 
charge which you bring against this man?" 



438 



3fe£u£ pefore tfje &oman #obemor 

CHAPTER 92 

A LTHOUGH the high council of the Jews had given 
ZA sentence upon Jesus that he should be put to death, 
they could not kill him without the consent of the 
Roman governor, Pontius Pilate; for long before this 
the Romans had taken away from the Jews the right to 
put any man to death. So, very early in the morning, 
before sunrise, the chief priests and rulers brought Jesus 
to the castle where the governor was staying. His home 
was in the city of Csesarea, nearly sixty miles away, on 
the sea-coast; but at the time of the Passover, when the 
city was crowded with people from every part of the 
land, he usually came to Jerusalem to see that it was kept 
quiet and in order; and at this time he stayed in a castle 
north of the Temple, called "The Castle of Antonia." 

The Jews had condemned Jesus to die, because, as 
they claimed, he had said that he was the Son of God; 
and that claim according to their laws was a high crime, 
deserving of death. Jesus was the Son of God, and as 
God's Son they should have honored him and obeyed his 
teachings. But they knew very well that Pilate would 
not care for their law, and would not order Jesus put to 
death merely because Jesus had said that he was the 
Son of God. So they undertook to find something 
against Jesus which was contrary to the laws of the 
Romans; and the charge which they resolved to make 
was that Jesus had spoken against the Roman rule, and 
had declared that he himself was the King of the Jews. 
He was, indeed, a king, but not such a king as would 
be against the Romans or their government. 

439 



SJes'u* ^Before tije ftoman (governor 

The Jews came to the castle, and standing outside, 
called for Pilate to come from the room where he was 
sleeping, and give judgment upon a law-breaker whom 
they had brought to him. They hoped that Pilate would 
do as they wished, without looking closely into the 
matter. He came down, and sat upon his throne as a 
judge, and said: 

' ' What is the charge which you bring against this 
man?" 

"If he were not a wicked man, one who has broken 
the laws, we would not have brought him to you," they 
answered. 

"Well," said Pilate, "if he has broken the laws of 
the land, take him to your own court and punish him." 

"We found this man," said the Jewish rulers, 
"everywhere leading the people away from their rulers. 
He forbids them to pay the tax to the Roman emperor, 
Caesar, telling the people that he is Christ, the King of 
the Jews. He ought to be put to death for stirring the 
people up against the government, and we ask you to 
give sentence against him." 

Pilate began at once to be very suspicious of these 
Jewish rulers. He knew that they themselves hated the 
Roman power, and that the}^ would never wish to have 
anybody punished for opposing it. He looked at Jesus, 
standing bound and helpless among them, and he thought 
that this man could not be a dangerous enemy. Pilate 
said to them: 

"Bring this man to me. I wish to speak with him." 

Jesus was led up to the foot of the steps to Pilate's 
judgment throne; and Pilate asked him, 

"Are you the King of the Jews?" 

Jesus answered the governor, "Do you ask this of 
your own accord, or did others tell you that I am a king?" 

" Do you take me for a Jew?" asked Pilate. "Your 
440 




Jesus was led to Pilate, who questioned him privately: "Are you th 
KinU of the Jews?" 



3fe£usi pefore tfje 3&oman (Sobernot 

own people and the priests have brought you before me, 
saying that you have claimed to be a king. Now tell 
me, what have you done?" 

"My rule as a king does not belong to this world," 
said Jesus. "If my kingdom were of this world, my men 
would fight to keep me from being given up to the Jews; 
but m} r kingdom is not here on the earth." 

"Then you are a king!" said Pilate. 

"You speak the truth, I am a king," said Jesus. 
"I was born for this: I came into the world for this, that 
I should speak in behalf of the truth. Every one who is 
on the side of truth listens to my words." 

"Truth! What is truth?" said Pilate. Then he 
went out of the hall and spoke to the Jewish rulers: 

"I do not find anything wrong in this man." 

This decision of Pilate made the Jews very angry, 
for they had hoped that he would approve their sentence 
without asking many questions; and now they found 
that he was willing to set Jesus free. Pilate thought 
that Jesus was a harmless man, perhaps not quite right 
in his mind in believing that he was a king. 

But the rulers would not cease their charges against 
Jesus. They said to Pilate, "This man stirs up the 
people everywhere, and makes trouble. He began in 
Galilee; and now he has come here." 

'"What," said Pilate, "does this man come from 
Galilee? Then he belongs to the rule of King Herod; 
and Herod is now here in Jerusalem. Take him to 
Herod, and let Herod decide his case." 

This Pilate said merely because he wished to avoid 
deciding it himself. He knew that Jesus had broken no 
law, and should be set free; but he did not wish to dis- 
please the Jewish rulers, and he thought to rid himself 
of the matter by sending Jesus to be tried before Herod, 
the ruler of Galilee. 

441 



Jesus pefore ^erob 

CHAPTER 93 

HEROD, to whom Jesus had been sent by Pilate, 
was the ruler of Galilee, the northern part of the 
land, and of Perea, on the east of the river Jordan. 
Jesus had lived in Galilee nearly all his life; and lately 
had been through Perea, preaching, so that Herod had 
been the ruler over Jesus for years. Herod was not 
really a king. His title was "Tetrarch," which means, 
"the ruler of a fourth part of a kingdom" ; and he was so 
called because when his father, Herod the Great, died, 
he received as his share one-fourth of his father's king- 
dom. But he was generally called "King Herod," 
because the people knew that it pleased him to be looked 
upon as a king, rather than "the quarter of a king." 
This was the Herod who had caused John the Baptist 
to be killed, on account of his promise to the young 
girl who danced at his feast. That shows what sort of 
a man Herod was — weak of will, fond of pleasure, and 
caring very little whether his acts were right or wrong. 
Like thousands of other people, high and low, King 
Herod had come to Jerusalem to take part in the Feast 
of the Passover; for Herod was a Jew, and kept the 
Jewish feasts; while Pontius Pilate, the governor of 
Judea, was a Roman, and worshipped the idols of Rome. 
Herod was highly pleased to have Jesus sent to him for 
trial, partly because Pilate and Herod, rulers of lands 
next to each other, had not been friendly, and this act, 
the sending of Jesus for trial, showed that Pilate wished 
to have Herod as his friend. Also, while Jesus was 
living in Capernaum and teaching all through Galilee, 
442 



3fe£u£ before ^erob 



Herod had heard much about him. You remember that 
some time before this, when they told King Herod of the 
many wonderful works of Jesus, how he made the sick 
well, gave sight to the blind, and even raised the dead, 
Herod said, "This must be John the Baptist whom I 
killed, come to life again." 

Although Herod did not live in Jerusalem, but in 
Galilee, he owned a fine house in that city, called a 
palace; and in this palace he sta3 r ed while in Jerusalem. 
Into the great hall of this palace Jesus was brought by 
the soldiers of Pilate; and the high priest Caiaphas 
came with them, also many of the Jewish priests and 
rulers, to speak against Jesus. Herod was very glad to 
see Jesus, the prophet and wonder-worker of whom he 
had heard so much. He wished to see Jesus work a 
miracle, and commanded him to do it, for he supposed 
that Jesus, being in his power, for life or death, would be 
very desirous of pleasing him. 

But as you know, Jesus never worked his miracles 
merely for people to look at them. He would make 
the sick people well or give hearing to the deaf, because 
he pitied them in their trouble; but when Herod spoke 
to him, calling upon him to do some wonderful work, 
Jesus stood still, and would do nothing. Herod asked 
Jesus many questions, but Jesus would not answer them, 
and remained silent. The king did not know what to do 
with such a prisoner, who would not speak a word, even 
to save his life. 

All this time, while Jesus was silent, the priests and 
the rulers stood around him, charging Jesus with wicked- 
ness of all sorts, disobedience to the laws of the land, and 
trying to make himself a king in Herod's own country. 
But Jesus answered nothing to all their charges against 
him. 

Herod thought to make sport of Jesus. As they said 

443 



Jesus iPefore J^erob 



falsely that Jesus claimed to be "King of the Jews, 1 ' 
Herod sent for a splendid mantle, such as kings wore, 
and had it placed on Jesus. Then they bowed low 
before him, and called him "king," mocking him as one 
who pretended to royal power. But in the midst of the 
crowd of mockers stood Jesus, calm and still, paying no 
attention and looking as though his thoughts were 
elsewhere. 

Herod knew very well that Jesus had done nothing 
worthy of death; that he was a good man, and harmless. 
He would not do what the priests and rulers urged him, 
over and over again, to do, to command that Jesus 
should be put to death. So, after holding Jesus up to 
contempt for some time, he sent him back to Pilate, all 
dressed as Jesus was in the royal robe. 




Fortress of Antonia. Site of the palace of Pilate. 



444 



Jesus; ^entenceb to ©eatf) 

CHAPTER 94 

WHEN PILATE sent Jesus to King Herod, he felt 
relieved, for he was unwilling on one hand to 
order Jesus, an innocent man, to be put to 
death; and on the other hand, he did not wish to offend 
the Jewish rulers by setting Jesus free. He thought 
that he had gotten rid of his difficulties, when sud- 
denly he found Jesus brought back to him, and the 
priests clamoring as before, that he should be put to 
death. 

Pilate very unwillingly sat down again upon his 
throne, compelled to hold the trial of Jesus once more, 
and unable to avoid making a decision upon his case. 
Just as he was about to begin the new trial of Jesus, a 
message from his wife came to him, which added to his 
anxiety and his alarm. Pilate's wife sent this word 
to him: 

"My husband, I ask you not to allow any harm to 
come to that good man; for this day I have been very 
unhappy on account of a dream about him." 

This message made Pilate all the more desirous not 
to yield to the Jews and put Jesus to death. He thought 
of a new plan to save the life of Jesus; and with this in 
mind he said to the chief priests and the leaders: 

"You brought before me this man charged with the 
crime of trying to lead the people to rise up against the 
government, and I have looked into his case, and have 
found the charges false. He has not done the things 
that you accuse him of; and there is nothing wicked in 
his acts, so far as I can see. Nor has Herod found any 

445 




The soldiers took Jesus into the guard room, tied him to a pillar, and beat him 
with heavy whips. 



446 



3Te£u£ S>entenceb to IDeatfj 



fault with him, for he has sent him back. He has done 
nothing that demands death. But he deserves some 
punishment for causing all this excitement and stir. 
I will order him to be well beaten, and then set free." 

But with one voice, they all cried out, "Away with 
this fellow! To the cross with him! Don't release him; 
release to us Barabbas!" 

It was a custom that at the Feast of the Passover, 
as a sign of the gladness of the time, to set free some 
prisoner, whatever man in prison the people should call 
for. There was at that time in the prison a man named 
Barabbas, who had led a party of Jews against the 
Roman rulers, and in the fight had killed a man. He 
had been condemned to die, but the people did not 
think an}' the less of him because he had fought against 
the Romans, whom they also hated, and whom they 
would gladly drive out of the land if they were not afraid 
of their power. The crowd began calling out to, Pilate to 
do as had been done every year, and set free sbme prisoner. 

"Are you willing," asked Pilate "that I should free 
this man Jesus, the King of the Jews?" 

But the chief priests and the Jewish rulers went 
around among the crowd, and persuaded them to ask, 
not for Jesus, but for Barabbas. And the people shouted 
out, as if they were all one man: 

"We will not have this man; we wall have 
Barabbas!" 

This was not what Pilate had looked for. He had 
thought that according to the custom of the feast he 
might set Jesus free and still please the people. He 
said to the crowd: 

"What then shall I do with Jesus, the man whom 
they call Christ?" 

"Send him to the cross! Let him die on the cross!" 
they roared with all their might. 

447 




They put on Jesus a cloak of scarlet and wove together a wreath of thorns and 
pressed it on his head until the blood streamed out; ihey beat him with 
the reed, and in mockery bowed before him saying: "Long live the King of 
the Jews." 

448 



^esiusi H>entenceb to Beatf) 



"Why, what wicked thing has he done?" asked 
Pilate of the crowd. "I find nothing on his part that 
deserves death. I will have him beaten, and let 
him go!" 

Then, at Pilate's command, the soldiers took Jesus 
into the guard room. They stripped off all his clothes, 
tied him to one of the pillars, and beat him with heavy 
whips, which tore into his flesh. To mock him, as one 
who called himself "King," they put on him a cloak of 
scarlet color; they wove together a wreath of thorns, 
and pressed it on his head until the blood streamed out; 
they placed in his hand a reed, as if it were a scepter 
held by a king; they fell down on their knees before him, 
and said to him: "Long live the King of the Jews!" 
They struck him with their hands, over and over again; 
they beat him with the reed; and they spat in his face. 

Pilate thought that if the people could see Jesus as 
he was, crowned with thorns, and covered with blood, 
they would feel pity for him, and not call for him to be 
put to death. He said to the Jews: 

"I will bring him out for you to see; but under- 
stand, I cannot find anything wrong in him." 

Then they brought Jesus out on the steps of the 
palace. His face was stained with blood; on his head 
was the wreath of thorns; and on his shoulders was the 
scarlet cloak. And Pilate said to the crowd: 

"See, here is the man!" 

But if Pilate hoped that the sight of Jesus, so woeful 
and sad, would arouse the pity of the people, he soon 
found himself mistaken. Led by the chief priests and 
their officers, they cried out with loud voices: 

"To the cross with him! Let him be crucified!" 

To be crucified was to be fastened with nails on a 

cross, which was then stood up, and left standing until 

the suffering man was dead. This was what the crowd 

29 449 



testis ^entencfb to ©eatf) 



of Jews before Pilate's palace called upon him to do 
with Jesus who had done no harm, but only good! 

Pilate answered them: "You can take him and 
crucify him, if you choose. I will have nothing to do 
with it; for I can not find that he has done anything 
wicked." 

The rulers of the Jews answered Pilate: "But we 
have a law; and by our law he must die, because he 
has made himself out to be the Son of God!" 

When Pilate heard that, he was still more afraid, 
for there seemed to him something strange in this man 
Jesus. He did not know what to do. He went inside 
the palace and took Jesus with him. 

"Where do you come from?" said Pilate to Jesus. 

Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate said to him: 

"You will not speak to me? Don't you know that 
it is in my power either to set you free, or to send you to 
the cross, just as I please?" 

"You would have no power over me," answered 
Jesus, "if it had not been given you from one who is 
above. God gave you that power to use for the right 
and not for the wrong. There is one man whose sin is 
greater than yours; and that is the high priest who 
brought me to you!" Jesus meant to have Pilate 
understand that he was only a weak man, yielding to the 
will of the high priest, and that he as the governor 
should have a mind of his own and do only what was 
right in God's sight. 

All this made Pilate the more anxious not to put 
Jesus to death, but to set him free. But the rulers of the 
Jews shouted aloud to him: 

"If you set this man free, who has called himself a 
king, you are no friend to Caesar, the emperor at Rome! 
Anyone who calls himself a king sets himself above the 
emperor who is over us all!" 
450 




Pilate washed his hands, and holding them out, called to the people: "My 

hands are clean from this good man's blood! This is your 

doing, not mine!" 



451 



JesuS is>entenccb to Beatfj 



Pilate knew that Caesar the emperor was very 
jealous and would be very angry if he knew that any man 
was trying to make himself a king. Very unwillingly, 
Pilate made up his mind that it would bo safer for him- 
self to let Jesus be put to death, rather than to make the 
emperor at Rome his enemy. So Pilate again took his 
scat upon the throne, and had Jesus brought before him. 
It was now the time of sunrise, six o'clock in the morn- 
ing. Pilate said to the Jews: 

"Here is your king!" 

"Kill him! kill him!" yelled the Jews. "Crucify 
him! Crucify him!" 

"This fellow is not our king," shouted the priests 
and rulers. "We have no king but Caesar the emperor! " 

Pilate tried to show the Jews that the act of putting- 
Jesus to death was their deed, not his. He sent for a 
basin of water, and in presence of them all washed his 
hands. Then holding out his hands, he called out to 
the people: 

"My hands are clean from this good man's blood! 
I tell you that he has done nothing to deserve death! 
This is your doing, not mine!" 

"This blood be on us, and on our children who come 
after us," answered the Jews. 

Then Pilate, sitting on his throne, gave sentence that 
it should be as they wished, that Barabbas, a robber and 
a murderer, should be set free, and that Jesus, who had 
done no harm, but only good, should be sent to the cross. 




Denarius of Caesar 
452 



fesmg Htb to Catoarp 

CHAPTER 95 

IN OUR TIME, and in all well-governed lands, when a 
man has been sentenced to death, he is taken to prison 
and kept there safely for a few days, that he may 
prepare to die. No one is allowed to do him harm; good 
food is given him to eat, and he is allowed to live his last 
days in peace. But in the old times, when Jesus was 
among men, prisoners appointed to die were treated with 
the greatest cruelty. Thej^ were mocked and beaten and 
spit upon for an hour or more, and then they were led 
away to death. 

So it was with Jesus on that day. After the soldiers 
had treated him shamefully, they took off the scarlet robe 
and put on him his own clothes. Then they laid upon his 
wounded shoulders the heavy beam of his cross, and led 
him from Pilate's palace through the streets of Jerusalem 
toward a hill outside the city wall. This hill was called 
in the Hebrew tongue, the language of the Jewish people, 
" Golgotha," a word meaning "Skull-place." In the 
language of the Romans, the word meaning "Skull-place" 
was "Calvaria," and from this word the place where 
Jesus was crucified has been called "Mount Calvary." 

It is not certain where was the true Mount Calvary, 
the place of Christ's cross. For a long time it was believed 
to be a little hill on the west of the city; and over that hill 
was built in the after years a great church, called "The 
Church of the Holy Sepulchre," because inside that church 
they show not only the place where people thought that 
the cross stood, but also the tomb or sepulchre in which 
Jesus was buried. To this church thousands of people go 

453 



JesuS Heb to Calbarp 



every year, thinking that they can see the very places 
where the Saviour died and was buried. 

But most of those who have studied carefully all 
that can be known about the city of Jerusalem and the 
hills around it, have believed that the true Calvary was 
not where the great Church of the Holy Sepulchre now 

r stands, but at 

some other place. 
Many think that 
it was a rounded, 
grass-coveredlittle 
hill just outside 
the city on the 
north. The side 
of this hill looking 
toward the city is 
very steep, and in 
it are two great 
caves. As one 
stands on the city 
wall and looks at 
this rounded hill, 
with the two holes 
in it, he thinks of 
a skull — which is 
a man's head 
without the skin 




Church of the Holy Sepulchre, sometimes claimed 
to be built upon the site of Calvary 



and the flesh, and with two eye-holes. This hill may 
have been called "the skull-place," because it looks so 
much like a skull. On this skull-like hill it may be that 
Jesus was crucified. 

Jesus walked through the streets of the city loaded 
down with the heavy beam of his cross on his shoulders. 
The soldiers were dragging him on, and some were driving 
him forward with blows, when suddenly, worn out with 
454 




Turning to ih<> women weeping over him, Jesus said: "Women of Jerusalem, 
weep not for me bul weep for yourselves and your children!" 



3fesiu£ TLth to Caltoarp 



suffering, and fainting from loss of blood and want of food, 
he sank down upon the ground, unable to carry his load 
any further. Just then a man coming from the country 
into Jerusalem, met the soldiers and the crowd with 
Jesus. This man was named Simon. He was not Simon 
Peter, the disciple of Jesus, but another Simon, who had 
come from a city far away in Africa, called Cyrene. The 
soldiers seized this man, and made him help Jesus in 
carrying the cross, until they came to Calvary. 

Following the soldiers who had been commanded to 
crucify Jesus, was a crowd of Jewish priests and scribes, 
the teachers of the law, and a multitude of the lowest of 
the people, all shouting aloud their rejoicing that Jesus 
was to be put to death, just as if he had been the wickedest 
man in all the land. But among these were a few friends 
of Jesus, and some of the women who had known him 
and loved him, and were now weeping over the wrongs 
done to him. 

Jesus turned and spoke to these women: 

"Women of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep 
for yourselves and your children ! For the time is coming 
when they shall say, 'Happy are those who have no 
children to suffer and to die.' In those days they shall 
call out to the mountains, Tall on us,' and to the hills, 
'Hide us.' If this is what they do now in the beginning, 
what will they do then in the end?" 

Even in those terrible moments Jesus was not think- 
ing of himself and his own sufferings, but the sorrows that 
would soon come upon others. 

There is a story told of Jesus on the way to Calvary, 
which is not found in any of the gospels, and may not be 
true. It is said that a good woman, named Veronica, 
was standing by the street when Jesus went by. Seeing 
liis face covered a\ i1 1 1 sweat, and dust, and blood, she 
went to him and wiped his face with a napkin. When she 

455 




v'onW ; ir-TW.r 




456 



fesiusi £eb to Calbarp 



looked at her napkin, she found that on it had been printed 
the portr t of Jesus; and she kept it ever afterward as her 
greatest treasure. 

They led Jesus out of the gate in the city wall, and up 
the side of the hill Calvary, wherever that hill was. There 
they laid the cross upon the ground and stretched Jesus 
out upon it. They drove nails through his hands and 
feet to fasten his body to the cross. Then they lifted it 
up with Jesus upon it, and dropped the lower end of it 
into a hole so that it would stand upright. 

With Jesus they had brought two other men, who 
had been robbers, and sentenced to die by the cross. 
These two men they crucified with Jesus, one on his right 
hand and the other on his left, and Jesus between them, 
as if he had been the most wicked man of the three. 

Jesus knew that the Roman soldiers who fastened 
him to the cross were not his enemies, as the Jews were, 
but were only obeying the orders that had been given 
them by their officers. He prayed to God for them. 

" Father," said Jesus, " forgive them, for they do not 
know what they arc doing!" 

It was nine o'clock on Friday morning when Jesus 
was placed upon the cross; and he hung there living for 
six awful hours, until three o'clock in the afternoon. 



457 




When Jesus saw his mother, and beside her ihe disciple whom he loved, he 

spoke from the cross to her: "Woman, there is your son." Then he 

said to John: "Son, there is your mother." 

458 



5e£u£ on tfje Cro&g 

CHAPTER 96 

IT WAS the custom of the Romans when they put to 
death any man upon the cross, to place on the cross 
above his head a writing, telling what the man's 
crime was. Pilate commanded that the writing above the 
head of Jesus should be 

THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH 
THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

It was written in the language of three different 
peoples; in Hebrew, the tongue spoken by the Jews; in 
Latin, the language of the Romans; and in Greek, the 
language spoken by all in that part of the world who were 
not Jews. These words told a great truth, that Jesus 
was a king, and they told it to all the earth, although very 
few people believed it then. Now, all over the world are 
millions upon millions of people who serve Jesus as 
Lord and King. 

When the priests and rulers of the Jews read this 
writing upon the cross they were greatly displeased, for 
they did not like to have Jesus called a king. The priests 
went to Pilate in his palace and said to him: 

"Will you not change the writing upon the cross of 
that man? Let it not be, 'The King of the Jews.' Please 
change it to, 'He said, "I am King of the Jews." 

But Pilate answered them, "What I have written, 
I have written." He meant that whatever he had placed 
upon the cross must stand there unchanged. 

It was also the custom of the Romans when a man 

459 



Jesus on tije Cross 



was crucified to give his clothes to the soldiers who fixed 
him on the cross. Four soldiers were in charge of the 
cross. These men divided the clothes of Jesus among 
them, each taking one garment. But one garment was 
left over, the shirt of Jesus. This was all woven in one 
piece, not sew T ed together; so the soldiers said: 

"Let us not tear it, but cast lots to settle w T hose it 
shall be." 

They threw upon the ground little square pieces of 
ivory having spots upon them. These squares were called 
dice. Each soldier threw one ivory piece; and they 
counted the spots on the side that was uppermost. The 
soldier whose piece showed the highest number took the 
shirt of Jesus as his own. One of the disciples of Jesus 
was standing near, and saw the soldiers dividing the 
clothes of Jesus, and he thought of the words in the 
twenty-second psalm, as a prophecy or foretelling of what 
should happen to Christ. These were the words of the 
psalm, written many hundred years before: 

"They shared my garments among them, 
And over my clothing they cast lots." 

-The soldiers having done their work, sat down around 
the cross to watch it. A great crowd of the priests and 
scribes and people stood around the cross, looking at 
Jesus hanging there. Some of them spoke spitefully to 
Jesus, shaking their heads at him, saying such words as 
these : 

"Ah! you would destroy the Temple and build it 
again in three days, would you? Then come down from 
the cross and save yourself if you can!" 

And some of the priests and scribes called out, "He 
saved others; but he can not save himself! If he is, as 
he said, 'Christ, the King of Israel,' let him now come down 
from the cross in our sight. Then we will believe on him." 
460 



JeSusi on tfje Cross 



"He trusts in God," said others; "now let God help 
him, if he chooses; for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 

One of the two robbers who were hanging on the 
crosses beside Jesus called out to him, joining in the abuse : 

"Are you not the Christ, the King of Israel? If you 
are, why don't you save yourself and save us with you?" 

But the crucified man on the other side of Jesus 
rebuked him: 

"Have you no fear of a just God?" he said. "You 
are suffering the same sentence as this man. And you 
and I are suffering only what we deserve for our deeds; 
but this man has done nothing wrong." 

Then this man from his cross said to Jesus, "Jesus, 
do not forget me when you come into your kingdom." 

And Jesus answered him, "I tell you truly, this very 
day you shall be with me in the heavenly land." 

At this time, near the cross of Jesus, was standing 
John, his disciple, the one disciple that Jesus loved, and 
with him was Mary, the mother of Jesus, also her sister 
and two other women named Mary — Mar}^ the wife of 
Clopas, and Mary Magdalene, or Mary of Magdala. 
When Jesus saw his mother, and beside her the disciple 
whom he loved, he spoke from the cross to her: 

"Woman, there is your son." 

Then he said to John: 

"Son, there is your mother." 

And from that time Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived 
with the disciple John, as though he was her own son. 

It was now noon, and Jesus had been upon the cross 
three long, terrible hours; the sun beating with its rays 
upon his head. Just at noon a sudden darkness came 
over the sky and the earth, and the darkness did not pass 
away until three o'clock. This darkness alarmed the 
people, and those who had been speaking to Jesus words 
of contempt, now stood still, full of fear. 

461 



Jesusi on tfje Cross 



At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud 
voice these words: 

"My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken me?" 

These are the opening words of the twenty-second 
psalm, written many hundred years before as a prophecy 
of what Christ should suffer. It may be that Jesus 
spoke those words to show that all his suffering had 
been foretold long before. Jesus in speaking those 
words used the old Hebrew tongue, the language in 
which the psalm was written. In the old Hebrew the 
words. "My God! My God!" were "Eloi! Eloi!" 
But the language had changed so greatly since the 
psalms were written that the people who heard him 
did not understand the words. Some said, "He is call- 
ing upon Elijah the prophet to help him!" 

Then Jesus spoke again and said: 

"I am thirsty." 

There was standing by a jar full of vinegar. One of the 
men took a sponge, soaked it in the vinegar, fastened it on 
the end of a stick, and placed it on the lips of Jesus. This also 
had been foretold in the sixty-ninth psalm, in the words, 

"In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." 

As soon as Jesus tasted the vinegar, he said: 

"All is finished." 

Then, after a moment's pause, he spoke with a 
loud voice to God: 

"Father, into thy hands I give up my spirit!" 

And with those words his head dropped forward, 
and Jesus was hanging dead upon his cross. 

Just at the moment when Jesus died, suddenly 
there was an earthquake; the ground was shaken, the 
jocks were torn apart, and many of the tombs around 
Jerusalem were opened. In the Temple on Mount 
Moriah, a wonderful event was seen. The great veil 
462 




The people on Mt. Calvary looking at the dying Jesus were filled with fear, and 
went back to the city in terror at the darkness and earthquake. 



463 



3Tcsu-S on tfje Cross 



that hung between the Holy Place and the Most Holy 
Place was suddenly torn from the top to the bottom, 
as if by a mighty unseen hand, so that the priests in the 
Templecould see what none of them, except the high priest, 
had ever seen before, the inside of the Holy of Holies. 

The people who were standing on Mount Calvary, 
looking at the dying Jesus, were filled with fear. They 
beat upon their breasts with their hands, and went 
back to the city in terror at the darkness and the earth- 
quake. The Roman captain, who was in charge of the 
soldiers around the cross, said: 

"Surely this was a good man, a son of God!" 

You know that the Sabbath among the Jews was 
kept on the seventh day of the week and that it always 
began at sunset on the evening before. It was on 
Friday that Jesus was crucified, and three o'clock on 
that afternoon. The Jews did not wish to have the 
men upon the three crosses hanging there upon the 
Sabbath, for that day, the Passover Sabbath, was kept 
especially holy. 

The Jewish rulers came to Pilate and asked him 
that the men should not be left upon the cross over 
the Sabbath, but that they should be killed and their 
bodies taken away. They did not know at that time 
that Jesus was already dead. Pilate gave orders to 
the soldiers to have the men killed. This they did by 
breaking their legs, as they hung upon the crosses. 
As they saw that Jesus was no longer alive, they did 
not break his legs. But one of the soldiers, to be sure 
of his death, drove his spear into the side of Jesus, to 
strike his heart. John the disciple was still standing 
there watching beside the cross to the very last, and 
he wrote in his gospel many years afterward that he 
saw both water and blood pour forth from the side of 
Jesus, out of the wound made by the spear. 
4G4 



Wqz ®omb tn tfje #arben 

CHAPTER 97 

YOU REMEMBER that from the garden of Geth- 
semane, very early on Friday morning, Jesus was 
brought before the high council of the Jews for 
trial, and that by the council it was ordered that Jesus 
should be put to death as one who falsely claimed that 
he was Christ, the King of Israel. But not all the members 
of this council were enemies of Jesus. A very few of them 
were his friends, but in secret, not daring to speak for him 
or to vote for him, for fear of the rulers and the people. 

One of these secret friends of Jesus was Nicodemus, 
the ruler who had come to see Jesus at night three years 
before, on his first visit to Jerusalem. Another was a 
good man named Joseph, a rich man, who lived at a 
place called Arimathea, some miles out of Jerusalem, in 
the country. This man, Joseph of Arimathea, did a very 
bold thing. He went to Pilate in his palace, and asked 
Pilate to allow him to take down from the cross the dead 
body of Jesus, and to bury it. To us this may not 
seem a brave act, but it was, for the Roman rulers were 
very suspicious of anybody who appeared to be the 
friend of one who had been condemned to death. Some 
time before this, when a man asked the governor for the 
body of a man who had been put to death, the governor 
ordered that his friend should also be slain as an enemy 
of the Romans and the governor's enemy. It might be 
said that Joseph of Arimathea "took his life in his 
hands" when he asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. 

But Pilate was not angry with Joseph; and at 

heart he was not an enemy of Jesus. Pilate was sur- 

30 465 




In the side of a rocky hill was a cave which Joseph of Arimathea had hollowed 
out for his own tomb, and there they laid the body of Jesus. 



466 



GTJje GTomfc tn tfje (^arbett 



prised to learn that Jesus was already dead, for sometimes 
upon the cross men lived several days of terrible pain. 
He sent for the Roman captain who had been in charge 
at the cross, and asked him if Jesus the Nazarene was 
dead. When the captain told him that Jesus was dead, 
he allowed Joseph to take away the body and do with 
it as he pleased. 

Then Joseph, with some of the disciples of Jesus, 
carefully and tenderly took down from the cross the 
body of Jesus; and after the manner of Jewish burials 
at that time, wrapped it round and round with long 
strips of linen cloth. They also tied a napkin over the 
face of Jesus. Nicodemus came to help in the burial, 
bringing with him the weight of a hundred pounds in 
fragrant and costly spices, aloes and myrrh, which they 
laid in the linen cloth around the body. 

Near the place where Jesus was crucified was a 
garden belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, and in the 
side of the rocky hill was a cave which Joseph had hol- 
lowed out for his own tomb. No dead body had ever 
been buried in this tomb; and there they laid the body 
of Jesus. Then they rolled a great stone to the door 
of the tomb, and left it. 

Near by, at this time, were some of the women who 
had come with Jesus from Galilee; looking on while 
the body of Jesus, whom they had loved so fondly, was 
laid in the tomb. One of these women was Mary 
Magdalene, or "Mary of Magdala" by the Sea of Galilee, 
a woman from whom Jesus had driven out evil spirits 
more than a year before. Another woman was Mary, 
the wife of Clopas; and another was named Salome, 
who may have been the mother of the disciples James 
and John, and the wife of Zebcdce the fisherman. These 
women noticed carefully the place where the body of 
Jesus was buried. 

467 



Cfje Comb in tfje <^arben 



On the next morning, which was the Jewish Sab- 
bath day, the chief priests and leading men among the 
Jews came to Pilate and said to him: 

"We remember, sir, that while this man who 
deceived the people was alive, he said, 'After three days 
in the tomb I will arise again.' Now, then, give orders 
that the tomb where he is buried be kept under guard 
for three days. For if it be not watched, his disciples 
may come and steal his body out of the tomb and 
hide it; then they will tell the people, 'He is risen from 
the dead,' and the last false report will do more harm 
than the first, that he was the King of Israel." 

"Take a guard of soldiers," said Pilate, "and make 
it just as sure as you can." 

So they went and made the tomb secure by putting 
a seal on the great stone at the door. Also they placed 
a guard of soldiers in front of the tomb, with orders 
to stay there for three days. 

On one side of the rounded skull-like hill which may 
have been Calvary, where Jesus was crucified, there 
has been found a very ancient tomb, which may have 
been the place of the Saviour's burial. No one can be 
sure of this; but we may be certain that either in this 
tomb, or in one like it, not far away, Jesus was buried. 



4G8 



Wi)t M$tn Ciirisft anb tbe €mptj» 
Comb 

CHAPTER 98 

IT WAS FRIDAY evening at sunset, only three hours 
after Jesus had died upon his cross, Avhen the stone 
at the door of the tomb was rolled against the door, 
and the bod} r of Jesus was left alone in its resting place. 
All day on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, and through 
that night, the body lay in the tomb, watched by Roman 
soldiers. But early on Sunday morning, before the sun 
rose, something wonderful took place such as had never 
been seen from the beginning of the world and never 
has been seen since that day. 

There was a great earthquake, shaking the ground 
around the tomb, as an angel from heaven came down. 
His face and his form shone with dazzling brightness 
like lightning, and his clothing was white as snow glit- 
tering in the sun. The soldiers on guard trembled as 
they saw the angel, and fell down on the ground as if 
they were dead; and after a little while rising up, crept 
away in their fear, and left the garden. 

The bright angel laid his hand on the stone at the 
door of the tomb, paying no attention to the seal upon 
it, and rolled the stone away. As he stood at the open 
door of the tomb, the Lord Jesus Christ walked out from 
it, no longer dead but living, and living never to die 
again. The grave clothes were not now wrapped around 
his body, and the napkin had been taken from his face. 

If the Roman soldiers were still there, they could not 
see Jesus, for a change had come over him, and he was 
now seen only by those whom he wished to see him and 

469 




The women at Uie empty tomb listened in fear and wonder to the words of the 
angel: "He is not here; he has risen!" 



470 



ftfje &i£en Cfjrtsit 



by no others. And he could suddenly appear and dis- 
appear as he chose. He could be seen suddenly in one 
place, and then a moment after could be seen just as 
suddenly in another place miles and miles away. He 
could pass through closed doors just as if they were 
wide open; and after being seen by his friends could 
vanish out of their sight. 

A few moments after the earthquake, and after the 
risen Christ had come from his tomb, a few women 
came from the city to the tomb, bringing some more 
spices and perfumes to place around his body. Those 
women were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the wife of 
Clopas, and Salome, and a woman named Joanna, and 
perhaps others. They may have felt the earthquake 
shock, but they did not know the wonderful things that 
had taken place, and supposed that the body of Jesus 
was in the tomb. As they came near, they said to 
each other: 

"Who will roll away for us the great stone at the 
door of the tomb?" 

But when they came to the tomb, they found the 
stone already rolled away, and the tomb open. Mary 
Magdalene came a little before the others, and was the 
first to see that the tomb was open, and looking inside 
she saw that it was empty. She took but one glance, 
and then, without waiting for the others, ran away to 
tell some of the disciples of Jesus that the tomb had 
been opened and the body of Jesus taken away, for she 
did not know that Jesus had risen and was living. 

A moment after Mary Magdalene had gone away, 
the other women came to the tomb. They, too, saw 
that the stone had been rolled away, the tomb was 
open and the body of Jesus was not there. But these 
women saw what Mary Magdalene had not seen, a 
young man with shining face and long while robe, seated 

471 



Cfje ftteen Cfjrist 



on the right side of the place where the body of Jesus 
had been laid. They were frightened as they looked 
upon him, for this young man was the angel who had 
rolled away the stone. But he calmed their fears, say- 
ing to them: 

"Do not be afraid, you are looking for Jesus the 
Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; he 
is not here! Look! this the place where his body Mas 
laid; and you can see it is empty! But go, find his 
disciples, and Peter, and tell them that he will go before 
you into Galilee, to the mountains. There they will 
see him, as he said to them before he died." 

So these women, like Ma^ Magdalene only a few 
minutes before, went away from the tomb to find some 
of the disciples. They found Peter and John, and told 
them the news that the angel had given to them. 

Peter and John at once hurried to the tomb. John 
was younger than Peter, and came to the tomb first. 
He saw the stone rolled away and the tomb open, and 
stood at the door, hesitating, uncertain whether to go 
into the tomb or not. But Peter, who came a moment 
afterward, did not hesitate. He rushed past John into 
the tomb, and saw that it was empty. It was like 
John, the thoughtful one, to wait at the door of the 
tomb; and it was like Peter, the quick and hasty one, 
to rush straight into the tomb. After Peter walked 
into the tomb, John followed him inside. They saw 
that the grave-place was empty; but they saw no 
angel. John noticed that the grave-clothes were lying 
in a heap on the floor, just as if Jesus had slipped out 
of them, without unrolling the long bands; and that 
the napkin which he had seen bound about his face 
had been carefully folded and was lying by itself. All 
these things showed that the body had not been taken 
away suddenly or in haste. 
472 




Peter and John hurried to the tomb; seeing that it was empty they were 
convinced that Jesus had risen. 



473 



Z\)t &isien Cfjrist 



Peter, the excitable, was not a thinker, and just 
looked at these things and wondered. But John, the 
thoughtful disciple, looked at these things — the stone 
rolled away with its seal broken, the empty tomb, the 
grave clothes in an orderly pile, and the napkin folded 
carefully. Then it flashed upon his mind for the first 
time that his Lord had risen alive from the tomb! 
And at that moment came to him the words of Jesus 
spoken more than once, that he must die, and on the 
third day would rise again from death to life. Of all 
the eleven disciples of Jesus — for now that Judas was 
dead, they were no longer twelve, but eleven — John, the 
disciple whom Jesus loved the most, was the first one 
to believe that Jesus had risen, and he believed it before 
he had seen his living Lord. 

As yet no one had seen Jesus living. Two dis- 
ciples had looked into the empty tomb, and the women, 
except Mary Magdalene, had seen the angel, but none 
of them had seen Jesus; and all of them, save Mary 
Magdalene, went away, wondering and scarcely know- 
ing what to think. 



474 



STesusi anb Jflarp Jttagbalene 

CHAPTER 99 

ALL THE FOUR gospels agree in saying that the 
first person who saw Jesus Christ living after his 
^ death on the cross was Mary Magdalene; that is, 
Mary of Magdala, a town on the Sea of Galilee ; a woman 
from whom a year before Jesus had driven out evil 
spirits; and who in love for what Jesus had done to her, 
followed him, and helped him with her gifts, for she was 
a rich woman. 

When the other women, with Peter and John, went 
away from the tomb, Mary stayed there, weeping and 
sobbing; for she had not seen the angel who said that 
Jesus had risen, and did not know that he was alive. 
As she stood weeping at the door of the tomb, she looked 
inside. There she saw two angels sitting at the empty 
grave-place, one at the head, the other at the feet, where 
the body of Jesus had been lying. 

"Woman," said one of the angels, "why are you 
weeping?" 

" Because they have taken away my Lord," answered 
Mary, "and I do not know where they have laid him." 

Just then something caused her to turn around, 
and she saw a man standing near her. It was Jesus, but 
she did not know him; for after rising from his grave 
Jesus showed himself in differing forms, and people 
could not know him until he allowed them. 

"Woman," said Jesus to her, "why are you weeping? 
Who is it that you are looking for?" 

Mary thought that this strange man was the gar- 
dener. She said to him: 

475 



3Tes»us anb Jflarp jUagbalene 



"Oh, sir, if you have carried him anywhere, tell me 
where you have laid him, and I will take him away 
myself." 

''Mary!" said Jesus. 

And as he spoke her name, she knew him; and fell at 
his feet . clasping them in her hands. 

"My own Master!" was all that she could say, in 
her joy at seeing him alive once more, whom she had 
last looked upon dead, hanging on the cross. 

''Do not hold me," said Jesus, "for I have yet to 
arise and go to my Father in heaven; but go to my 
brothers, my disciples, and tell them that I shall soon 
rise up from the earth and go to my Father and your 
Father, to my God, and your God." 

Mary Magdalene went and found the disciples, and 
said to them, "I have seen the Lord!" telling them also 
what he had said to her. 

After Mary Magdalene had gone away from the 
tomb, the other women— Mary the wife of Clopas, 
Joanna, and Salome — came back from having seen the 
disciples, and having told them what the angel had said, 
that Jesus had risen. As they drew near the tomb, Jesus 
went to meet them. 

"Welcome!" he said to the women. They ran up 
to him, fell on their faces, and clasped his feet, just as 
Mary had done, for they felt joy and fear mingled as 
they saw him. 

"Do not be afraid," said Jesus, "go tell my brothers 
to go to Galilee and they shall see me there." 

So these women went again to find the disciples and 
give them the news that Jesus was really living, and that 
they had seen him. All this was on Sunday morning — 
the first Easter-day. 

On that morning, when the soldiers who had fled 
from the tomb recovered from their terror, they went 
476 




Mary Magdalene turned and answered the strange man whom she thought was 
the gardener: "Oh, sir, if you have carried him anywhere, tell me where 
you have laid him." "Mary!" said Jesus. And as he spoke her name she 
knew him. 



3fe3u£ anb jttarp jWagbalene 



to the chief priests and told them about the earthquake 
and the angel who had rolled away the stone. The priests 
had a talk with the rulers of the citj^; then they gave a 
large sum of money to the soldiers, and told them to say 
to everybody: 

"The disciples came at night, while we were asleep, 
and broke open the tomb, and stole the body of Jesus." 

They knew that a soldier had no right to sleep while 
on guard; and the rule of the army was, that any soldier 
who slept on his post should be put to death. But the 
rulers said to them: 

"If the governor hears about this, we will satisfy 
him, and see that no harm comes to you." 

So the soldiers took their money and did as they 
were told. And the story that the body of Jesus was 
stolen from the tomb, was told among the Jewish people 
and believed by them. 




Coins struck by Pontius Pilate 



477 




Then Jesus began to show them in all the Old Testament books, how all the 

prophets had foretold the things that should take place with Christ 

when he should come. 



478 



a OTalfe tottf) tfje EtSen Cijrtst 

CHAPTER 100 

WHEN JESUS was seen after he rose from the 
tomb, it was called an " appearance" because 
Jesus appeared to someone. His first appear- 
ance, as you have read, was to Mary Magdalene; his 
second appearance was to the other women; and his 
third appearance was to Wo men walking out into the 
country on that first Easter morning. 

Those two men were not among the twelve disciples 
of Jesus; but they had believed in him as the Christ, 
the King of Israel. One of them was named Cleopas; 
the name of the other has not been given in the gospel 
by Saint Luke, where this story is told. The two men 
on that morning were walking out from Jerusalem to a 
village called Emmaus, which was six or seven miles 
from the city. As they walked, they talked together 
of Jesus, of his death, his burial, and of a report which 
had just come to them, that he was living again. 

While they were walking and talking, they suddenly 
saw another man walking with them. This stranger was 
Jesus, but they did not know him; just as Mary Mag- 
dalene did not know Jesus when first she saw him. He 
said to them: 

"What is it that you are talking about, as you walk 
along?" 

They stood still, with sorrowful faces; and Cleopas 
answered this stranger. 

"What!" said Cleopas, "do you live all alone in 
Jerusalem, since you seem not to have heard of the things 
that have taken place there in the last few days?" 

479 



& WLalk toitf) tfje &t*en Cfjrist 

"What things do you mean?" asked the stranger. 

"Why. about Jesus of Nazareth," they answered. 
"Have you never heard of him? He was a wonderful 
prophet, to whom God gave power in his words and his 
deeds before all the people. But the chief priests and 
our rulers seized him, and gave him up to be sentenced to 
death, and crucified him. But it was our hope that he 
was to be the one to set Israel free from its enemies, and 
reign as our King. And now, this is the third day since 
he died, and this morning some women of our company 
have brought to us news that greatly surprised us. They 
went to the tomb at daybreak, and found it open, but 
did not find his body within it. They told us that they 
had seen some angels, who said that Jesus was alive! 
At once some of our men went to the tomb, and found 
it just as the women had said, the tomb thrown open 
and the body gone; but they did not see Jesus." 

"O, foolish men, with hearts so slow to believe, 
after all that the prophets have said in the Holy Book!" 
said the stranger, who was the risen Jesus. " Do you not 
know that Christ was bound to suffer all these things 
before he could enter his glory as the Son of God?" 

Then he began to show them in all the Old Testament 
books, how A loses in the law, and David in the psalms, 
and all the prophets in their writings, had foretold the 
things that should take place with Christ when he should 
come; and that all these things had come to pass with 
Jesus, showing that Jesus of Nazareth was in truth the 
Sou of God and the King of Israel. 

While they went on talking together, they drew 
near the village of Emmaus, to which the two men were 
going. The unknown Jesus seemed as if he was going 
further; but they urged him to stop. 

'•Slay with us," they said to him, "for it is getting 
toward evening; the sun is already about to set." 
480 




After his resurrection Jesus appears to Simon Peter. 



481 



a WLalk tottf) tfje &iaen Cfjrist 

And Jesus went with them to the village and into 
the house. They sat down to supper; and the stranger 
took the loaf of bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to 
them. In that instant, their eyes were opened, and they 
knew who he was, Jesus their Master! But in that 
moment he vanished out of their sight. 

"How our hearts burned within us," they said to 
each other, "while he was talking to us on the road and 
explaining to us what is said in the Holy Book!" 

Then they immediately rose up from the table, and 
went back in haste to Jerusalem. They found some of 
the disciples and others in the upper room at Jerusalem, 
where Jesus had taken his last supper with his disci pies. 
Before Cleopas and his friend found a chance to tell 
their story, those in the room said to them: 

"The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to 
Simon Peter!" 

Then the two men from Emmaus told how the 
stranger had walked with them on the road, and had told 
them many things out of the Old Testament; and how 
they had suddenly known that he was Jesus, while he 
was blessing and breaking the bread. 

These were the third and fourth appearances of 
Jesus, the third to Simon Peter; but what Jesus s?id to 
him has not been written; and the fourth, to Cleopas 
and his friend on the road to Emmaus. 



482 



®too £s>unbap (Ebemngs tottf) tfje 
Etsen Christ 

CHAPTER 101 

THE MEETING place of all who believed in Jesus, 
after his death on the cross, seems to have been 
the upstairs room, where Jesus had his last supper. 
There they met from day to day; and it was to this 
place that the two men came from Emmaus with the 
report of their meeting with Jesus. On the evening of 
Sunday, the first Easter day, the followers of Jesus 
were gathered together in this room. Ten of the eleven 
disciples of Christ were there, Thomas being absent; 
and with them were the women and a number of others 
who were believers in Jesus. 

The doors leading to this room were shut and locked, 
for they feared the Jewish rulers and people. They 
were talking together of these reports that had come 
to them of Jesus having risen and having been seen, 
when all of a sudden they saw Jesus himself standing 
in the middle of the room. He said to them: 

" Peace be to you!" 

At the first sight of him, they were frightened, for 
they thought it was not Jesus alive whom they saw, but 
the ghost or spirit of Jesus dead. 

"Why are you so startled?" said Jesus to them, 
"and why do doubts come to you? Look at my hands 
and my feet. It is I, myself. Feel me, and look at me; 
a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see that I have!" 

With these words he showed them his hands and 
his feet, with the holes left by the nails on the cross 
still in them. Even yet, they felt the sight of Jesus 

483 




Jesus looked at Thomas and said to him: "Look at my hands and put your 
finger there, and look at my side and thrust your hand into it." 



484 



tKtoo g>tmbaj> (Ebeningsi tottlj tfje &i*en Cfjrisit 

was too good to be true, and could scarcely believe that 
it was their Lord living. He said to them: 

"Have you here anything to eat?" 

They brought to him a piece of broiled fish; and 
he ate it while they looked on. This was not because 
he was hungry and needed food, for he no longer needed 
anything; but simply to show them that he was reall} r 
living. 

Then at last they were afraid no longer, and believed 
fully that their Lord was with them living; and their 
hearts were full of joy. Jesus said to them again: 

" Peace be with you; as the Father sent me forth, 
even so I send you forth." 

Then he breathed on them, and said, " Receive the 
Holy Spirit of God! I give you power that if you take 
away the sins of men, they are taken away from them, 
just as if I myself forgave them; and if you do not take 
away their sins, then the guilt of their sins shall stay 
upon them." 

After talking with his followers for a time on that 
evening, Jesus disappeared as suddenly as he had come. 
This was his fifth appearance on that day, the day of 
his rising from the tomb. 

But, as we have seen, Thomas, one of the twelve 
disciples of Jesus, was not with the others on that eve- 
ning, and being absent did not meet the risen Jesus. The 
other disciples said to him: 

"We have seen the Lord!" 

But Thomas would not believe them. Ho thought 
that they were all mistaken, and said: 

''Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails 
on the cross, and put m}^ finger on those marks of the 
nails; and unless I can put my hand into the wound 
made by the spear in his side, I will qo1 believe that 
he is alive!" 

is:, 



Ctoo g>unbap £bemngs tnitti tfje &tfien Cfjrisit 

A week later, on the next Sunday evening, they all 
met again in the upper room; and at this time, Thomas 
was present. Though the doors were shut, Jesus came 
again and stood among them, with the words as before: 
" Peace be with you!" 

He looked at Thomas and said to him: 

"Look at my hands, and put your finger there; 
and look at my side, and thrust your hand into it. Do 
not longer refuse to believe that I am alive, but believe 
in me." 

Thomas answered him: "My Lord, and my God!" 

"Is it because you have seen me that you have 
believed in me?" said Jesus. "Blessed are those who 
have not seen, and yet have believed!" 

You remember that John, the beloved disciple, 
believed that Jesus had risen when he looked into the 
empty tomb, and before he had seen him alive. 

This meeting with the disciples on the second Sun- 
day evening was the sixth appearance of Jesus after 
rising from the dead. 



186 



Wqt preafefast fap tfje g>ea 

CHAPTER 102 

ON THE NIGHT before the death of Jesus, at 
the supper he had said to the twelve disciples, 
"After I have risen from the dead, I will go 
before you to Galilee." And after rising from his tomb, 
he had said to the women, "Go and tell my disciples 
that I will meet them on the mountain in Galilee." 
This mountain was Kurn Hattin, near the Sea of Galilee, 
vhere in the year before, he had preached his great 
"Sermon on the Mount." 

The word that Jesus would show himself to all 
who believed on him, on this mountain in Galilee, led 
the followers of Jesus from all parts of the land to go 
to Galilee and to this mountain. They waited near 
that place for some days without seeing Jesus. 

One morning seven of the eleven disciples of Jesus 
were on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. These seven 
men were Simon Peter, James and John, Thomas, 
Nathanael (who was also called Bartholomew, which 
means "son of Tolmai"), and two other disciples, whose 
names have not been given. 

While they were standing by the lake, Peter felt 
a longing for his old work as a fisherman, and he said 
to the others: 

"I am going fishing." 

He thought that while they were waiting for Jesus 
to come, they might also do some work. The other 
six men said: 

"We will go fishing with you." 

They went out in the boat, and fished all night, but 

487 




At daybreak they saw a man standing on the shore, who called to them: "Throw 

out your net on the right side of the boat and you will 

catch some fish." 

488 



tKfje breakfast bp tfje g>ea 



caught nothing. The next morning, just as the day 
was breaking, they saw a man standing on the shore. 

"Boys," called out this man, "have you caught 
anything? " 

"No," they answered him. 

"Throw out your net on the right side of the boat," 
said the stranger, "and you will find some fish." 

They threw out the net as the man told them, and 
at once it was filled with large fish, so full that they 
could not at first haul it in. Then John, the disciple 
whom Jesus loved, said to Peter: 

"That is our Lord!" 

When Simon Peter heard that this man on the 
shore was the Lord Jesus, he slipped on his coat — for 
he had taken it off while working — and leaped into the 
water to swim ashore. The other disciples came ashore 
in a smaller boat, dragging the net, full of fish; for they 
were not more than a hundred yards from the beach. 

When they landed on the shore, they saw a char- 
coal fire burning, with some fish cooking upon it and 
some bread beside it. Jesus said: 

"Bring some of the fish that you have caught." 

Peter went to the boat and pulled the net ashore, 
full of large fish. They counted them afterward, and 
found that they numbered one hundred and fifty-three; 
but although there were so many, the net was not torn 
anywhere. Jesus said to them: 

"Come and have breakfast." 

They sat down on the beach beside the fire; and 
Jesus passed the bread around to them, and also the 
broiled fish. This was now the third time that Jesus 
was seen by his disciples after rising from the dead; 
for he had already appeared to them on two Sunday 
evenings in Jerusalem; and in all, this was the seventh 
appearance of Jesus after his rising from the dead. 

489 



Cfje prcafefast bv tfje ^>ea 



After they had eaten their breakfast, and were 
still sitting together, Jesus said to Simon Peter: 

'Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me more than 
the others?" 

"Why. Master," answered Peter, "you know that 
I am your friend." 

"Then," said Jesus, "feed my lambs." 

There was a moment's pause, and then Jesus a 
seeond time asked Peter: 

"Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?" 

"Yes, Master," he replied; "} T ou know that I am 
your friend." 

"Then," said Jesus, "be a shepherd to my sheep." 

Then, a third time, Jesus asked him: 

"Simon, son of Jonas, are you my friend?" 

Peter felt hurt that his third question was "Are 
you my friend?" and not "Do you love me?" and he 
answered: 

"Master, you know everything! You know that 
I am your friend!" 

"Then feed my sheep," said Jesus; and he went 
on, "I tell you in truth, when you were young you put 
your own girdle around your waist, and went wherever 
you chose. But when you grow old, you will stretch 
out your hands for someone else to put a girdle around 
you, and you will be taken where you do not wish to go." 

Then Jesus added, "Follow me." 

As Peter on the night of his Master's trial had three 
times denied that he knew Jesus or was his disciple, 
so now Jesus wished him to say three times before them 
all that he was his friend. And when he had spoken 
this three times, the Lord said to him, as he had said 
long before by the Sea of Galilee, "Follow me." Thus 
Simon Peter was again given his old place among the 
disciples of Jesus. 
190 



tEfje breakfast bp tfje g>ea 



What Jesus said to Peter about stretching out his 
hands and being carried where he did not wish to go, 
was spoken as a prophecy or foretelling of the manner 
by which Peter should die for the sake of Christ. Nearly 
forty years after that time, when Peter was an old man, 
he was put to death at Rome by being crucified as Jesus 
had been. It is said that when he was about to be 
fastened upon the cross, he said to the soldiers, that one 
who had denied his Master as he had, was not worthy 
of dying in the same manner as Jesus had died; and 
he begged them to set up his cross with his head down- 
ward toward the ground; and thus Peter died. 

But to go back to that breakfast by the Sea of 
Galilee, after those words had been spoken by Jesus to 
Peter, he looked at John, who was standing near. Peter 
and John, though very different in their natures, loved 
each other greatly. In the story of Jesus and his dis- 
ciples, and in the days that came after, we find that 
almost always Peter and John were together. Seeing 
John, Peter said to Jesus: 

"Master, you have told me about myself; now tell 
what this man shall do." 

But Jesus said to Peter: 

"If I choose that he shall wait until I come back 
to earth, what has that to do with you? Do you follow 
me, as I said." 

John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, lived a long- 
time after that day. When all the rest of the twelve 
disciples of Jesus had died — nearly all of them were slain 
by enemies of Christ — John was still living. And from 
these words of Jesus many thought that John would not 
die. But Jesus did not say that John would not die. 
He only said that if he chose to let John live until he, 
Jesus, came again, it was not Peter's matter, but the 
Lord's. 

19] 







He rose into the air, higher and higher, until a cloud covered him from their 
sight, and Jesus the Lord of glory was seen no more. 



492 



3Fe£u* Etetng up from Cartf) to 
^eaben 

CHAPTER 103 

SOON AFTER the appearance of Jesus to the seven 
disciples by the Sea of Galilee, a great meeting was 
held of many who believed in Jesus, on the moun- 
tain, in Galilee, where Jesus had told them to come 
together. It is said that at this meeting more than five 
hundred people who were followers of Jesus gathered in 
one place. There Jesus showed himself to the whole 
company. When they saw him they bowed down to the 
ground before him; but even then some of them were 
in doubt whether they had really seen the Lord. 

At that time Jesus drew near to this company and 
said to them: 

"All power as the Son of God, and the King of 
God's Kingdom in heaven and on earth has been given to 
me by my Father. I command you, therefore, to go 
and preach the gospel to all the world, and make disciples 
of all nations and in all lands. Those who believe on me, 
baptize in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the 
Holy Spirit; and teach them to obey all the commands 
that I have given you. Whoever believes on me as his 
Saviour shall be saved from his sins; but whoever will 
not believe, shall suffer the guilt of his sins. And these 
powers shall be given to those who believe; in my name 
they shall drive out evil spirits; they shall speak with 
new tongues; they shall take up poisonous snakes in 
their hands and shall suffer no harm; if they drink any 
poison it shall not hurt them; they will place their 
hands on sick people, and they shall become well. And 

493 



Jesus Rising up from €artfj to J^eatoen 

I will be with 3'ou all the time, even to the very end of 
the world." 

After this there was a ninth appearance of Jesus to 
James; not James the brother of John, but another 
James who was the son of Joseph and Mary, and a 
younger brother of Jesus. What was said at that appear- 
ance has not been told, but from that time James was 
one of the foremost followers of Jesus, and for many 
years a leader in the church at Jerusalem. Long after 
this, James wrote one of the books in the New Testa- 
ment, the Epistle of James. 

Jesus was seen from time to time during forty days 
by his disciples and followers. We know of ten times 
in all when Jesus appeared; but there may have been 
other times of which no mention is made in the gospels 
or in the other writings of the New Testament. His 
tenth appearance, as far as we know, and his last, may 
have been at the upper room in Jerusalem, forty days 
after he had risen from his tomb. At that time he said: 

"When I was with you, I told you this, that every- 
thing written of me in the books of Moses, and the 
psalms and the prophets must come to pass." 

Then he opened their minds to understand what 
was written in the Old Testament. 

"Thus," he said, "it is written that Christ the King 
of Israel must suffer, and die, and rise again the third 
day, just as has come to pass. And now you are to go 
forth and preach that men must everywhere turn from 
their sins to God, and be forgiven of their sins through 
the power given to me. And you are to begin your 
preaching here in Jerusalem, the very place where I 
have been crucified. I will soon send down on you the 
Holy Spirit whom my Father has promised. But wait in 
this city until the power comes upon you from on high." 

Then the risen Christ led them out of the city to 
494 




"Where two or threi 



are gathered together in my 

in the midst of them." 



name, there am I 



495 



^esusi ftising up from Cart!) to 5j»eaben 

the Blount of Olives. Xo one except those who believed 
in him could see him, for he was unseen to all other 
people. As he drew near Bethany he lifted up his hands 
and blessed his followers. While they were looking at 
him, and his hands were held out. he rose into the air, 
higher and higher, until after a time a cloud covered 
him from their sight, and Jesus the Lord of glory was 
seen no more. 

While they were looking upward, two men dressed 
in shining white, angels of God, were seen standing 
beside them. These angels said to the followers of 
Jesus: 

"Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking 
up towards the heavens? This Jesus, who has been 
taken from you, will come again to earth in the very 
same way that you have seen him go up to heaven." 

So Jesus Christ was taken up to heaven, and there 
sat down on his throne at the right hand of God. He 
sits there still, watching over his people until the day 
shall come for him to return to earth. 



496 



A1G ~< ' '* 



